Over the last decade, Longmont quietly transformed from a sleepy “cow town” and into a growing community with a flourishing food scene. The city’s population increased by nearly 10-percent between 2013 and 2023, and surpassed 100,000 residents last year.
“Over the last few decades, more restaurants have moved in to meet the demand of the growing populations of Longmont and the small communities surrounding it,” explained Ross Hagen, general manager of Pumphouse Brewery, which originally opened on Main Street in 1996.
What was once a quick pit stop on the way to Estes Park is drawing in major investments from some of the Front Range’s biggest food and beverage players. This past May, the same owners of Denver’s Junction Food & Drink debuted Longmont’s first-ever food hall, Parkway Food Hall; and Teocali Cocina, a Mexican restaurant with locations in Arvada and Lafayette, opened its doors the same month.
Moreover, the team behind Denver’s Improper City and Boulder’s Rayback Collective recently debuted Johnson’s Station. This new restaurant, cocktail bar, Biergarten, and live music venue, had taken over a vintage gas hub and replaced pumps with electric outlets, and gas station food for gourmet.
At the heart of the growth is the partnership between local businesses, the Longmont Downtown Development Authority (LDDA), and other municipal resources, which have played a crucial role in revitalizing the town’s once largely vacant Main Street.
“There’s been a lot of investment in the past 15 years in mixed-use developments, adding housing and retail to the downtown environment,” explained Kimberlee McKee, executive director of the LDDA. “Many wonderful entrepreneurs have invested in the district and are helping to really build a sense of place.”
A Quiet Start
“Longmont was obviously a much smaller town in 1996 than what it has now become. Downtown just didn’t have as much to offer from a shopping and restaurant perspective as it does today,” Hagen said, reminiscing about Pumphouse Brewery’s early days. Otherwise, there was “[mostly] pawn shops and a lot more turnover with the restaurants and bars,” continued Hagen.
Nearly 20 years after Pumphouse opened, there was still a need for quality dining spots in Longmont. According to Matt Grimes, executive director of the Gafner Hospitality Group (GHG), GHG aimed to fill this gap. Enter its first concept, The Roost, which debuted on Main Street’s 500 block in 2015.
“There were a few good breweries around town, but the food scene was limited,” said Grimes. “We saw an opportunity to create a casual American eatery that served great cocktails, beer, and food, [and] a place that would become a gathering spot for the community.”
Today The Roost remains a staple, and its success inspired GHG to add more restaurants to its portfolio, four of which are in Longmont. Grimes and other restaurateurs we spoke to praised the LDDA for their support and programs, crediting their business’ prosperity and staying power to the town’s revitalization efforts.
“We put several tools in the toolbox to help people invest in downtown. In 2013, we started a retail conversion grant with the Longmont Economic Development Partnership, which provides up to 25-percent of the cost for converting previously non-retail properties in the district,” recalled McKee. “We also started the sign grant, which reimburses up to 25-percent of total signage costs.”
Additionally, in 2017, Longmont applied for part of the downtown district to be designated as a national historic district, enabling property and business owners to preserve the historic integrity of the buildings while also benefiting from tax credits and incentives. In 2018, the city earned the All-America City Award by the National Civic League due to the work put into it. It was only one of only 10 towns in the U.S. to receive this distinction.
Downtown’s Renaissance
Longmont is starting to see the fruits of its efforts blossom, with a bustling urban core emerging.
“We’ve significantly grown and diversified our food and craft beverage scenes, which has really drawn people in,” McKee said. “For example, 300 Sons won a best chicken sandwich contest in Denver and Urban Fields and Market went viral for its giant cheese stick, and both attracted crowds.”
Del Rae Heiser, downtown specialist for the LDDA, emphasized the importance of creating a sense of place and doing all they can to help local businesses succeed. “The beautification projects, [including] flowers, trees, and lights, along with events like Longmont Restaurant Week and the holiday parades, all contribute to making downtown a place where people want to spend their time and money,” she explained. “The first two retail conversion grants we ever awarded were to 300 Sons and Wibby Brewing, and it’s amazing to see how well they’re doing now.”
These grants have also helped GHG’s eateries. “The LDDA has been really great to us. When we opened The 99 Bar two years ago, we received a grant to help with our signage,” said Grimes. “Programs like that really invite great businesses downtown and support them.”
One of these new businesses is Red Cedar Bistro, a new Mediterranean restaurant that opened at 516 Main St. in November. Owned by husband and wife team Larry and Sandy Shore, who formerly owned restaurants in Evergreen, Colo. and Scottsdale, Ariz., the couple originally became attracted to Longmont for the beautiful scenery, friendly community, and surrounding farms and ranches. After noticing a lack of Mediterranean options on Main Street, they decided to open one themselves.
“We used the LDDA’s grants for our signage, and our landlord also used their grants for the building’s facade and demising,” said Larry Shore. “They’re a great advocate.”
One of the biggest benefits of the district’s growth comes from the sales tax revenue it generates. Right now, said Mckee, the town is up 6-percent year-over-year.
“In the past, Longmont might not have seemed worth the trip,” McKee added. “But now, it definitely is.”
The Food Scene’s Future
In the next decade, Longmont is expected to continue growing, and city officials anticipate adding approximately 24,000 more residents by 2035. A $162 million improvement project to CO 119 (The Diagonal), which connects Longmont and Boulder, will play a significant role in positioning the town as a central meeting point in the region.
The project, which earned a $25 million federal grant last October, aims to alleviate the anticipated 25-percent increase in vehicular traffic, which the corridor may see by 2040. Downtown will also gain its first hotel at the end of next year with Hotel Longmont, a boutique hotel with 84 rooms, a rooftop restaurant, and 2,600 square-feet of event space. This and the other additions may finally put the district on the map as a viable destination for visitors.
With these major infrastructure projects also come more food and beverage concepts to feed the growing population. Pelo’s Deli plans to open soon on the 600 block of downtown Longmont, near Cheba Hut, after receiving a grant to assist with its build-out. The town’s second food hall, Granary Food Hall, will be opening on the corner of 2nd Ave. and Emery St. next year. The eatery will take over an adaptive reuse project of the existing structure built in the 1930s.
“We’re seeing a lot of new restaurants in Longmont, and while some might worry about increased competition, it’s actually a good thing,” shared Conrad Legendy, president of Pumphouse Brewery. “The more we have, the more Longmont will be known as a destination for great food.”
From its humble beginnings, Longmont’s food scene has undergone a remarkable transformation. With the continued support of the LDDA, local restaurateurs, and the community, the former cow town’s culinary landscape is one to keep an eye on.
“We’re huge believers in ‘rising tides raise all ships,’ so it’s awesome to see more chefs and bartenders putting their work and passion on display,” added Grimes. “Downtown is thriving compared to what it was 10 years ago.”
