Letter to the Editor: A Few Reasons Why I Don’t Spend Money in Lakewood

by Christina Suzanne

One way we can support our communities is to shop at local businesses and hire local service
providers. But when a “business district” is chaotic, joyless, uninspiring, and dangerous,
people may think twice about spending their disposable income there.

Colfax: Here’s how I described Colfax to a friend in Los Angeles…”There are Porsche and Audi
dealerships but also a plasma center, several tattoo parlors and pawn shops…no ice cream
parlors or bookstores. There are lots of motels that are halfway houses and you have to be
careful when driving because people may randomly run into the street.”

While the Natural Grocers is staffed by really nice people, I still approach it with caution after
witnessing a person hide a rather large knife behind dry goods on one of the shelves. “He likes
to do that every night,” an employee told me.

Wadsworth: Driving South on Wadsworth a few weeks ago, to the right was a homeless camp
with strung-out people milling about. To the left, an urgent care center with boarded up
windows. I then realized I could not continue the arduous journey to BelMar Whole Foods, sit in
the left-turn lane by Alameda, and pretend not to notice the beggars and windshield washers.

For the record, I think it’s cruel and inhumane to support people living and using drugs in
public spaces when they need medical attention and professional care. The only place anyone
should see beggars is at a Renaissance Festival where it’s part of the “experience.”
Lack of Services: I really tried to make appointments to see medical and dental
professionals. I even waited several months only to have appointments canceled at the last
minute (not fun after arranging time off from work). On the rare occasion I was finally able to
see a provider, the experience was terrifying and I had to call an attorney in Littleton.

Limited Selection: While readily available and abundant in Lakewood, tattoos, drugs, alcohol,
reptiles, guns, and plasma are not items I currently need, nor want for my household.

Lakewood-Adjacent Doesn’t Count: I do shop at Cosmo’s for pet food but it’s actually in
Wheat Ridge. Sometimes I purchase things at Colorado Mills/Denver West but I have yet to
meet anyone who can confirm if that area is Lakewood or Golden