DENVER — It’s finally time to say goodbye.
Fathima Dickerson is 34 years old and her family’s business, the Welton Street Cafe, has been in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood longer than she’s been alive. “This is more than just business, it’s personal. The Welton Street Cafe is about people, it’s about families, it’s about community,” says Dickerson.
After 36 years, 22 of them at its current location in Five Points neighborhood, Welton Street Cafe closed after owners determined a bigger space was needed to continue serving the community.
Now Dickerson is packing up and getting ready to move everything out. “We’re lucky. People have dropped off boxes and other stuff to help with the move,” explained Dickerson.
The owners are raising money to help move the restaurant into a larger location up the block. They also need funds for renovations. So far, a GoFundMe campaign has helped them reach almost $97,000 of their $250,000 goal.
As a co-owner, Dickerson’s main worries are being out of business for a few months, and not being able to connect with all of the restaurant’s customers, who are in many ways like family.
“I’m used to seeing these people everyday. We don’t want to be out of business. We have a large following and we don’t want to lose them,” she said.
The last few weeks have been long and intense for Dickerson while she’s been preparing to close the restaurant. She said the love and support shown by customers and people in the neighborhood has been overwhelming, but in a good way.
“People just keep coming in and giving us hugs and gifts, and telling us how much they love us,” she said.
Some people still stop by for a meal, not realizing the Welton Street Cafe isn’t open right now, making the situation even more difficult for Dickerson.
“Right now, I’m not a waitress. I’m not a business owner. I’m actually part of this community. It feels like a funeral,” she said.
The idea to start the restaurant came from Dickerson’s mother, who used to cook for the people in her neighborhood back in the Virgin Islands. After moving the family to Denver in 1986, the Welton Street Cafe was born. And since then, this has been the place to go for so many people in Five Points for birthday parties, after-church gatherings, baby showers, wedding showers or just a good meal.
Dickerson hopes that community focus will continue after they move the restaurant to its next destination, which she hopes will open in about six months.
The restaurant's next location will be at 2883 Welton Street.
Dana Knowles is a multimedia journalist at Rocky Mountain PBS. You can reach her at danaknowles@rmpbs.org.
