Holiday banners on Colfax features local legends
“There are my girls!” exclaims an effervescent fellow from behind the gleaming steel countertop of his Colfax café. It’s nearing lunchtime on a Friday, and regulars from neighboring East High School are settling down by a table near the main window.
That fellow is Max Hopewell-Arizmendi, owner of Café Max, which has been nestled on the eastern side of Colfax near Josephine Street for almost three years now. His zest for revitalizing his stretch of the longest, wickedest street in America has landed him a spot among festive banners hanging alongside Colfax for the holiday season.
The holiday banners were crafted by the Colfax Business Improvement District (CBID) to reflect the character of the people who live, work, and play along Colorado’s most famous street. According to the CBID’s Public Information Coordinator, Sara Randall, those who were chosen for the posters are “resilient, self-made, and embody the spirit of the season, illustrating why thousands of people call Colfax home.”
The banners also feature a longtime community resource officer; a neighborhood activist and his Boston Terrier; and a well-known Elvis/Johnny Cash impersonator who operates ColfaxAvenue.com.
Within minutes of meeting Max, it’s clear why the vibrant café owner was handpicked.
Max, alongside his partner of 19 years, Yuki, left New Mexico for Denver seven years ago, having lived in New York prior. Yuki, who was born and raised in Japan, is a co-owner of Café Max, but he works at another local restaurant.
“We thought it would be better that way,” Max explains. “He has his life, and I have this.”
Max says he always wanted to own a business, and a career in food was natural for him. Before his café opened, Max worked at downtown staples like the Brown Palace and Corner Office. Now he walks to work from his condo in Cheesman Park.
Max and Yuki are frequent travelers, and they have always been enamored by cafés in foreign countries where they could sit down with coffee and conversation. Their first café visit in Denver was to St. Mark’s, which they stumbled upon on a summer night.
“There were people there, and they were talking, and it was really pretty,” Max recalls. “But in the past seven years, that’s changed dramatically.”
The computer culture has somewhat taken over coffee shops within the last decade, essentially pushing chatterboxes to other sites. Max hopes his café can welcome back a social atmosphere. After 5pm, those using computers are invited to an eclectic downstairs work area, which he calls “the rabbit hole.”
The basement area, featuring a diverse collection of vintage memorabilia, has been host to comedy, music, and fashion events as well as providing a meeting space. There’s no rental fee, either. Max just asks that guests purchase a drink.
“We’re working hard to be part of this movement where you put your laptop away, come with a friend, and really understand what the café is for,” Max describes. “It doesn’t have to be a work place. The café is really to get away from work. It’s perfect for a first date.”
His concept includes more than a café’s typical offerings. Earlier this year, Café Max acquired a liquor license, so he’s able to offer wine and whiskey. They also offer a selection of food.
When Max chose a Colfax location for his café, bankers tried to dissuade him, suggesting more affluent neighborhoods like Cherry Creek or the Highlands. He didn’t understand why all the prosperous neighborhoods directly off Colfax weren’t fighting for their street.
At their spot, you can grab a simple soup, sandwich, or charcuterie board for an approachable price. Their idea of featuring food is based on concepts Max and Yuki picked up during their travels to Paris, Spain, Germany, and Japan.
“There’s a similarity amongst all of them,” Max notes. “There’s good food, there’s wine, there’s liquor. They do not separate [liquor and caffeine] like they do in America.”
Max uses the term “tea dance” to describe the post-brunch happy hour that occurs when you’re just not done yet. He hopes Café Max can be a comfortable establishment that caters to this pastime among both gay and straight communities.
When Max chose a Colfax location for his café, bankers tried to dissuade him, suggesting more affluent neighborhoods like Cherry Creek or the Highlands. He didn’t understand why all the prosperous neighborhoods directly off Colfax weren’t fighting for their street.
“We didn’t come with the past issues of Colfax,” Max elaborates. “We didn’t know what the hell Colfax was.”
But after a lot of research, Max finally understands what makes Colfax such a gem. He isn’t afraid of developers; he just hopes they’re able to capture the essence of the thoroughfare he’s come to adore.
“I’m honored to be on a path of people that have a vision to really make Colfax a street where it’s walkable, kooky, fun,” Max remarks. “It’s like the street that bring us all together again.”
