Downtown Littleton touted as emerging venue

“Littleton has grown up,” said Greg Reinke, president of Historic Downtown Littleton Merchants, at the group’s meeting April 4.

Reinke predicts downtown Littleton will be the city’s financial hub within 10 years, and the numbers seem to agree. Councilman Jim Taylor told the assembled merchants the area’s growth in sales and uses taxes outpaced the rest of the city, increasing by 69 percent between 2005 and 2011.

Reinke credits a newly flourishing nightlife thanks to venues like The Tavern and Merle’s, along with young people who like said nightlife and are populating downtown apartments like Alexan and Nevada Place.

“Littleton doesn’t go to bed anymore,” Reinke said.

Realtor Ann Mather noted she’s getting a lot of phone calls from people who want to move to Littleton, “and the closer to downtown, the better.”

Reinke is busy making sure all those people are entertained, with plans to have two fireworks shows during this summer’s Wild on Littleton block party. This year’s theme is “Magic on Main Street,” and the evening will feature roving necromancers sure to entrance all ages.

The popular Ladies Only Sample Tour, or LOST, is imminent. Tickets will be available only at Town Hall Arts Center this year, starting at 9 a.m. on April 16. The 550 tickets sell out fast – last year in just a couple hours.

Also, some enterprising artists are hoping to catch the attention of some who might drive past Main Street on their way to the Denver’s First Friday art walks in the Santa Fe Drive art district by hosting their own. Alamo Antiques, Boutique and Art Gallery will get the ball rolling April 6, and organizers hope the rest of the many galleries downtown will join in.

Keep an eye out for the return of the Turkey Leg and Wine Hoedown later in the summer, as well, before the ever-popular Pumpkin Follies and Goat Show and the Zombie Walk enliven the Halloween season.

“We’re not living in Whoville anymore,” Reinke said. “We’re all yelling, making sure they can hear us down here.”