Another Sign We Aren’t Supporting Local Fort Collins Businesses Enough

A Fort Collins restaurant that had been in business for just over a year has closed it's doors for good. The Laboratory Restaurant, which was located at 1801 South College Avenue, had the following to say on their Facebook page on Monday...

"Very sad day today. The owners and management of The Laboratory would like to thank ALL of our loyal supporters and our current fantastic staff. The Laboratory has closed its doors for good."

According to the Coloradoan, co-owner Angela King said there were a few factors that played into the decision including parking issues caused by the Summit student housing project as well as lack of visibility.

The three owners of the Laboratory are looking at three options for the space that the Laboratory was housed in including a different concept, subletting the space, or leasing a turnkey restaurant out to someone who is interested. All of the restaurant equipment, including tables, will stay intact.

The restaurant employed 20 workers to staff the restaurant. They are now out of jobs due to the closure.

The parking issue of the space comes at a time when approval has already been granted for a new parking garage to be built to house the vehicles of tenants at the Summit, but as of now no garage has started to take shape.

With the building also housing a Subway, T-Mobile, and Tea2Go, public parking was very much at a premium when it had to be shared with students who were tenants at the Summit.

Now onto my opinion of this story...

It's a sad day when a restaurant that did a great job all around has to close in Fort Collins because we have to accommodate the students first in the area instead of the businesses that comprise the city.

The Laboratory had it all. Great service...great food that was inventive...and one of the best patio views in the city. I visited the restaurant a few times and always left as someone who was very happy with what my experience was there.

Whether it was a grilled cheese I couldn't get anywhere else or a macaroni and cheese that was PHENOMENAL, the Laboratory restaurant was much different than the usual fare we see on South College Avenue.

I believe that visibility and parking played a huge part in the restaurant's closure. I know I always had a tough time finding a parking space and before I visited for the first time I had a hard time finding it. But once I did, I was hooked.

Here's a lesson for all of us in Northern Colorado. Always keep your eyes open to the local restaurants and businesses that are a fabric to our community. It's always OK to visit one of the popular national chains we have in the area. But you need to be open to trying one of the hidden gems we have in the city. It could turn out to be the best restaurant you ever had.

In my mind, the Laboratory was that hidden gem that I came across along with many other people I know. The tough thing now is that restaurant is now a memory. And if we don't support our local businesses more before supporting the college students who could most likely leave the area after four years, we could see more and more leave.

That's not what Fort Collins is about...or is it?