🚫 Controversial coffee shop faces bankruptcy

☕ The End of Ink! Coffee?

In a post-pandemic tale familiar to many, the once-fruitful downtown Ink! Coffee chain has dwindled from 16 successful locations to just four. Bankrupt and barely staying afloat, the business is poised to be purchased by Leevers Supermarkets for a paltry $300,000. [BusinessDen 🔒]

• Flashback: Perhaps most notoriously, Ink! Coffee sparked local outrage in 2017 after posting a sign outside its Five Points shop that read, “Happily gentrifying the neighborhood since 2014.” [The Guardian]

🚨 City Plans Security Boost in West Colfax

The City of Denver has received a $250,000 state grant to combat rising crime and homelessness in the West Colfax neighborhood. The money will fund the installation of new lights, fencing, and security cameras around Paco Sanchez Park. [Westword]

🏗️ Inside ‘Kroenke-town’ Negotiations

Soon City Council will vote on the future of the empty parking lots around Ball Arena — which could reshape what downtown will look like for decades to come. Council member Jamie Torres represents the area and has been at the negotiating table with the influential Kroenke family for more than a year hashing out the details. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

🗳️ A Denver Voting FYI

In the name of saving money, your local ballot booklet will only include some of the measures to be featured on the city’s historically long ballot this election. You can peruse your booklet for info on tax-related measures, but details for everything else — like the slaughterhouse ban, for example — will only be published online. [Denverite]

• Prefer hard copies? You can get printouts of the online-only info at any Denver Public Library branch, any Voter Service and Polling Centers, or at the Denver Elections Division office.

What do you think about the Hey Denver newsletter? We want to know! Share your feedback in this quick survey to help us make this the best newsletter in the Mile High.

Hey loyal readers and listeners. We love to hear from you! Got a question about something going on in the city? A spicy take on a trending topic? Commentary on a recent podcast episode or newsletter? We want to hear it 💌 Here’s the latest from the inbox:

🦃 That One Turkey

Paul in Southeast Denver is asking the important questions:

• “I want to know if anybody else has seen the lonely turkey [at Bible Park].”
  
  For Paul, and anyone else who’s been curious, 9News has confirmed the turkey’s existence — her name is Henrietta.

☕ Pumpkin Spice Everything

I recently shared a roundup of delicious pumpkin spice treats around Denver. A few readers wrote in with some additional suggestions:

• “Wooly Wax on Tennyson [just released] a pumpkin spice brûlée candle.”— Gabrielle H.
• “The Pumpkin spritz at Leven Deli will change your life." — Mary Kate K.
• “Migas Coffee just launched their new fall drink menu, including the Spice Spice Baddie, their take on the PSL with oat milk; the Hunni Haze, an agave oat milk latte with cinnamon; and the Apple Chaider, an apple cider chai latte.” — Devon K.

🥧 Denver’s Best Baked Goods

Who bakes Denver’s best bread and pastries?

• “For the best bánh mi — Baker’s Palace! On Federal near Exposition. They bake their own baguettes for the bánh mi, as well as other Vietnamese specialties like bao buns and desserts.” — Mike S.
• “You didn't mention my favorite bakery, which is Taste of Denmark in Lakewood. I've never tried their bread, but their pastries are amazing.” — Carol in Virginia Village
• “One bakery/bakery item I love is the cinnamon roll from La Fillette Bakery. All of their baked goods are amazing, but that's my favorite! — Wren
• And for those of you wondering about those peanut butter Cheez-It cookies that City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi mentioned on the show, I’ve got good news:
  
  “[Those were the] Snack Attack cookies from Lindsey O’Neil who owns Send Flours Baking Co., and you can buy these cookies every week at the Highlands Farmers Market. I think she also does online orders for delivery and shipping.” — Zach Martinucci with Rebel Bread