Lakewood is the largest city in Jefferson County and sits between downtown Denver and the foothills, so its restaurants serve commuters, families and people heading west toward the mountains. Restaurant Finance Network gives Lakewood owners a single application that a broker takes to multiple lenders, so a remodel or second location does not hinge on one bank’s answer.
Lakewood at a glance
- Population: 156,927 (U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 estimate for July 1, 2025; 155,984 in the 2020 Census).
- County: Jefferson.
- Dining districts: Belmar, the 40 West Arts District along West Colfax Avenue, the Union Boulevard and Denver West office corridor, and neighborhood centers along Wadsworth Boulevard.
- SBA coverage: the SBA Colorado District Office on 19th Street in downtown Denver, a short drive east on 6th Avenue.
From a dead mall to a downtown
Belmar is Lakewood’s downtown, and its history explains a lot about the local restaurant market. The site at Alameda Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard was the Villa Italia mall, which opened in 1966 and closed in 2001. Developers replaced it with a walkable, 22-block mixed-use district whose first phase opened in 2004, so many Belmar restaurant spaces are newer storefronts with apartments and offices above them. That makes them attractive for operators who want modern utilities without a full gut renovation.
West Colfax tells a different story. The 40 West Arts District is a state-certified creative district along the historic Colfax corridor, served by the RTD W Line light rail, and it connects galleries and studios with a four-mile painted walking and biking route called the 40 West ArtLine. Older motels, diners and strip centers along Colfax are being repurposed, which often means renovation budgets for kitchens, patios and accessibility.
Large employers fill weekday lunch rooms. The Denver Federal Center, a major federal office campus, is in Lakewood, as is Red Rocks Community College, and the Union Boulevard office corridor near the Denver West area feeds business lunches and happy hours. Weekends pick up from residents and travelers on US 6 and I-70.
Lakewood financing options
- Construction and renovation loans for repurposing older West Colfax buildings into restaurants or bars.
- SBA loans for buying an established restaurant or the building it sits in.
- Equipment financing for kitchen lines and refrigeration when moving into a newer Belmar space.
- Bar financing for taverns and cocktail bars near the arts district or office corridors.
- A business line of credit for payroll and inventory gaps between busy weekends.
Expanding within the west metro
Lakewood owners often look at Arvada, Littleton or Golden-area sites for a second unit, or the reverse: a Denver concept opening its next store in Belmar. Expansion loans fit that move. A lender will focus on whether the current store produces enough surplus to support a second rent check, and on how firm the new site’s construction estimate is. Several units under one owner can be reviewed together through multi-location restaurant financing.
Licensing and local help
New liquor licenses in Lakewood are filed through the City Clerk’s Office and decided by the Lakewood Liquor Licensing Authority after a public hearing, with the Colorado Liquor Enforcement Division issuing the state license afterward. Hotel and restaurant licenses have a food-service requirement, so menus and kitchen plans matter. The Colorado SBDC serving Denver Metro, which covers Denver and Jefferson counties, is based right in Lakewood at Red Rocks Community College on West 6th Avenue.
Questions owners ask
Is a newer Belmar storefront easier to finance than an older Colfax building?
Not always easier, but usually simpler. Newer spaces may need less renovation, so the request centers on equipment and opening costs. An older Colfax building can need electrical, plumbing, ventilation and accessibility work, which calls for contractor bids and sometimes a renovation loan. Lenders weigh your deposits and experience first in either case.
Where is the closest SBDC to Lakewood restaurants?
The Colorado SBDC serving Denver Metro is hosted by Red Rocks Community College at 13300 W. 6th Ave. in Lakewood and serves Denver and Jefferson counties by appointment. Advisors can help with projections, cash flow planning and loan readiness at no cost, which pairs well with a broker who shops your application to several lenders.
Who approves a liquor license for a Lakewood bar?
The Lakewood Liquor Licensing Authority holds the public hearing and decides new applications after the City Clerk’s Office accepts a complete file. Once the city approves, the Colorado Liquor Enforcement Division processes the state license. Applications are accepted by appointment, so contact the Clerk’s Office early and plan the timeline around your build-out.
Nearby cities
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