What, Exactly, Is This Big Mess All About in Downtown Loveland?

It's hard to walk around Downtown Loveland and not notice the construction going on just off this particular corner. There was talk that maybe a bar that had closed, a few blocks over, might be taking over this space.

Downtown Loveland, Colorado, has gone through many changes, in the last five years alone. Change is inevitable, we all know. Will these changes be for the better? We'll be waiting to see, once they're all done.

You can't say they aren't doing anything, as they are clearly doing something, just west of the corner of 5th Street and Lincoln Avenue in Downtown Loveland.  Many, may recall how this was the spot of a Karate place for many years.

In late 2021, Loveland longtime dive bar on 5th Street, The Top Hat, closed down. For some time, there was talk that the bar would take over this space, which is two blocks to the west of where Top Hat used to be. When you see a lot of construction going on, you do start wonder if the bar is returning.

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By all current accounts, that is not the case. The future of Top Hat remains in a "maybe, someday" state. Speaking of bars that have closed in Loveland, directly to the north of this spot, you'll find the now empty Origins Wine Bar & Wood-Fired Pizza, which closed in March of 2023.

WHAT IS THE PROJECT?

I contacted the architecture firm that has a [blueprint] located within the space, Freeman Architecture. I spoke with John Freeman and he informed my that the building is going through a couple of things:

• Loveland's Downtown Development Authority has received funds to give some of the facades in Downtown "facelifts," this spot being one of those projects.
• Work is being down to turn the (about) 2,500 square-foot space into two 1,250 spaces for future tenants. No tenants are currently signed up to lease the space at last report.

WHAT IS THE 'SCHUETT BUILDING'

The Schuetts currently own the entire building, which includes The Meat Revolution, which faces Lincoln at the corner of 5th Street; that business is also a part of the Schuett family.

With the very big Draper Project coming to Downtown, getting this part of the area a nice facelift is a great idea.