>> HELLO, I'M KYLE DYER AND WELCOME TO COLORADO INSIDE OUT ON THIS DECEMBER, 9th, 2022.

TWO AREAS OF COLORADO BUSINESS ARE GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION THIS WEEK.

FIRST UP, ANYONE WHO SELLS CU GEAR.

STORES ARE GETTING READY TO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY NOW THAT DEION SANDERS IS THE NEW HEAD FOOTBALL COACH AND ORDERS FOR SEASON TICKETS ARE POURING IN.

AND HERE'S TO ALL OF THOSE SPORTS BARS AND RESTAURANTS THAT WILL SHOW CU GAMES NEXT SEASON.

THERE IS A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL, FINALLY!

ANOTHER COLORADO BUSY STORY THAT IS MAKING NATIONAL HEADLINES HAS TO DO WITH 303 CREATIVES.

A MARKETING AND WEBSITE COMPANY BASED IN LITTLETON.

ITS OWNER, LORIE SMITH REFUSED TO BUILD A WEBSITE FOR A SAME-SEX COUPLE BECAUSE OF HER RELIGIOUS BELIEF.

SMITH SAYS SHE IS ALLOWED TO DO SO UNDER HER RIGHT FOR FREE SPEECH GRANTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.

BEFORE WE GO MUCH FURTHER LET ME INTRODUCE THE PANEL.

INCLUDING THE DENVER MILK MARKET.

AND ERIKA RIGHTER.

FOUNDED HOPE TANK.

THE STORE WITH GIFTS THAT GIVES BACK.

ERIKA FOCUSES ON GALVANIZING OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES SO THEY CAN SUCCEED IN WHAT CAN BE A VERY CHALLENGING COURSE.

PATTI -- PATTY, THE 303 CREATIVE CASE WAS BROUGHT BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT.

THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME.

BASED ON RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.

>> TO TIE YOUR TWO BUSINESSES TOGETHER, I WISH THAT CU ALUM WAS STILL ON THE SUPREME COURT BECAUSE FROM EARLY INDICATIONS, THIS WAY MAY NOT GO THE WAY SOME OF US WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT.

WHEN JACK PHILLIPS WITH MAST MASTERPIECE BAKERY, HE REFUSED TO MAKE A CAKE FOR A SAME-SEX COUPLE.

IN THIS CASE WITH LORIE SMITH, SHE HASN'T REFUSED ANYBODY ANYTHING.

NO ONE HAS ASKED HER.

SO THIS IS A WEIRDLY HYPOTHETICAL ISSUE WHERE SHE SAYS BECAUSE OF HER RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, IT WOULD VIOLATE HER FREE SPEECH TO HAVE TO SET UP A WEDDING SITE -- WEBSITE, FOR SAME SEX COUPLE.

NOT THAT SAME-SEX COUPLE HAS ASKED HER.

THE IRONY OF THE SUPREME COURT HEARING THIS HYPOTHETICAL CASE, THE NIGHT THE HOUSE VOTES ON THE DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE, IS REALLY DISHEARTENING.

AND YOU WOULD THINK BY NOW WE ARE TO THE POINT WHERE FRANK COULDN'T REFUSE TO MAKE A PIZZA FOR A SAME-SEX COUPLE, YOU WOULD HOPE WE COULD BE AT THE POINT WHERE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IS RESPECTED THE SAME WAY ANY MARRIAGE IS.

>> AND THIS DENYING CASE IS NOT JUST HERE.

THERE WAS A CASE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA WHERE A RESTAURANT CALLED A GROUP A CHRISTIAN ADVOCACY GROUP AND SAID YOUR TABLE WON'T BE AVAILABLE FOR YOU TONIGHT.

THIS SEEMS TO BE A REPETITIVE THING.

>> WELL, WHAT WE NEED, AND IT'S AN INTERESTING THING YOU BRING UP THERE, WE NEED THE SUPREME COURT TO DEFINE WHAT IS ALLOWED AND WHAT ISN'T.

LET'S REMEMBER THE LAST TIME JACK PHILLIP WENT BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT, THE COURT DIDN'T SAY THIS IS RIGHT OR THIS IS WRONG.

BASICALLY, THE COLORADO CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION IS A BUNCH OF JERKS AND YOU NEED TO TREAT THIS GUY BETTER.

THIS IS A CHANCE NOT TO PUNT THE DECISION ON THIS.

I'M NOT A LAWYER.

I'M BEING ASKED TO PLAY ONE ON TV TODAY.

IF YOU ARE READING THE TEA LEAVES, IT SEEMS THEY ARE READY TO CARVE OUT A NARROW EXEMPTION.

THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ASKED TO DO THIS FOR A SPECIFIC CLIENT CAN WEIGH IN WITH THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.

FOR EXAMPLE, FRANKS, SITTING NEXT TO ME HERE, PROBABLY COULD NOT DENY ANYONE A TABLE BASED ON THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, THEIR SAME-SEX COUPLE STATUS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IF HE WAS ASKED TO SAY CATER AN EVENT FOR, YOU KNOW, CHRISTIANS AGAINST VACCINES, HE COULD COME IN AND SAY THAT'S AGAINST WHAT I BELIEVE, I DON'T THINK I WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING HOW THE COURT PARSES THIS OUT.

AND WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THIS IS GOING TO BE.

I WILL JUST SAY THIS, BASED ON COVERING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, I THINK THE OUTCOME WILL BE HUGE.

I DON'T THINK A LOT OF BUSINESSES WILL CHANGE THEIR PRACTICES BECAUSE OF THIS.

AND THE ONES THAT DO, ARE ONES THAT WILL HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WELL, IS THIS GOING TO HURT MY BRAND?

AM I GOING TO LOSE MORE CUSTOMERS THAN JUST THIS PARTICULAR COUPLE IF I DECIDE TO DO THIS?

SO I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A BIG STATEMENT FOR THE SUPREME COURT.

I DON'T THINK THE IMPACT WILL BE AS BIG AS SOME PEOPLE THINK.

>> YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE BRAND.

FRANK, YOUR BUSINESS, WORD OF MOUTH IS EVERYTHING.

>> BRAND IS EVERYTHING.

YES.

FOR US, YOU MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS AND FOR US IT'S -- THIS IS LUNACY TO ME.

TO BE QUITE HONEST.

AND I THINK YOUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO CREATE FOUR PEOPLE AND MAKE THEM HAPPY.

AND TO SATISFY YOUR CUSTOMERS AND NOT TO JUDGE WHO YOUR CUSTOMERS ARE.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO.

AND FOR US, WE TRY TO BE AS OPEN-MINDED AND, YOU KNOW, CARING FOR YOUR GUESTS AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.

>> AND, ERIKA, AT HOPE TANK, YOU GUYS GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO FIND ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, BACKGROUNDS, CULTURES, TO CONTRIBUTE TO WHAT YOU PROVIDE.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, I THINK LIKE MOST ISSUES, I WOULD SAY FIRST AND FOREMOST, FOLKS SHOULD RESEARCH THESE THINGS.

I THINK THERE ARE A LOT MORE THINGS AT STAKE THAN JUST THIS ISSUE.

I THINK, BASICALLY, A BUSINESS WILL VOTE WITH THEIR FEET.

WITH THEIR SIGNAGE.

WITH THEIR MARKETING.

THEIR MESSAGING.

SO WHEN WE HAD OUR SPACE, WE HAD A VERY DELIBERATE SIGNAGE ABOUT WELCOMING EVERYONE.

AND WHAT THAT MEANT IS, THAT WAS EVERYONE, EVERYONE.

SO I INVITED DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS AT HOPE TANK THAT ARE NOT TYPICAL OF A RETAIL ENVIRONMENT.

AND THAT IS INTENTIONAL.

SO THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO WOULD COME IN, SPECIFICALLY, BECAUSE OF THE SIGNAGE THAT WE HAD.

AND THEN WE COULD HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

FOR ME, PERSONALLY, IT HAS DONE NOTHING BUT BENEFIT MY BUSINESS.

BEING IN COLLABORATION AND BEING OPEN WITH EVERYBODY.

IT'S THE WAY THAT I CHOOSE TO RUN BUSINESS.

>> OKAY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT BUSINESS SO FAR THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

THERE IS A LOT OF TALK EVERY NOVEMBER ABOUT SHOP LOCAL ON SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY.

AND THEN IT ESCAPES A LOT OF PEOPLE'S MINDS.

ED, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM SOME SHOP OWNERS?

I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE SAY THINGS ARE REALLY SLOW.

SOME PEOPLE, OH, PEOPLE ARE SPENDING DESPITE INFLATION.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING?

>> YOU ARE HEARING IT'S A MIXED BAG RIGHT NOW.

WE DON'T HAVE THE LOCAL NUMBERS YET.

THE NATIONAL NUMBERS ARE SHOWING EVERYTHING FROM 2% BLACK FRIDAY GAIN FOR ELECTRONIC STORES.

23% BLACK FRIDAY GAIN FOR RESTAURANTS.

AGAIN, THAT IS JUST A BROAD PICTURE.

I THINK A LOT OF IT IS ABOUT WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD SAYS.

WHO IS AROUND YOU.

I THINK ONE THING THAT PEOPLE NEED TO REMEMBER IS THAT RIGHT NOW, I THINK YOU COULD BE SEEING A LOT OF PEOPLE SPENDING.

THIS IS STILL PENT UP DEMAND FROM TWO YEARS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO GET OUT AND SHOP AND GO AROUND AND WHATNOT.

RECENT REPORT THAT CU LEADS BUSINESS SCHOOL GAVE SHOWED THAT WE ARE NOW AT THE SECOND LOWEST LEVEL OF PERSONAL SAVINGS IN THE HISTORY, IN A 64 YEAR HISTORY, OF TAKING THAT NUMBER IN THE COUNTRY.

I THINK THAT SPENDING WILL DRY UP EARLY IN THE YEAR.

NEXT YEAR.

SO I THINK AS PEOPLE CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT PEOPLE ARE GOING OUT TO SHOP, IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF JUST HOW ARE THINGS GOING RIGHT NOW?

IT'S GOING TO BE, HOW ARE BUSINESSES PREPARING FOR WHAT WILL BE AN EVENTUAL SLOWDOWN NEXT YEAR?

>> AND IF RESTAURANTS, THIS IS YOUR BUSY TIME ALREADY JANUARY AND FEBRUARY SLOW TIMES FOR MOST RESTAURANTS, FRANK.

>> CORRECT.

THIS IS THE TIME OF THE YEAR, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER.

IT FEELS LIKE THE CHRISTMAS SEASON HAS SHRUNK A LITTLE BIT.

NOW IT'S LIKE A THREE-WEEK SPRINT FOR YOUR PARTIES AND YOUR BUSINESS TO GROW.

OUR CONCERN IS, ALWAYS, AND I SAY IT WITH OUR BUDGET PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, JANUARY, FEBRUARY ARE VERY SLOW MONTHS.

AND PEOPLE GO OUT AND CELEBRATE NOW.

AND THAT'S THE TIME THAT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT FOR RESTAURANTS AND I WOULD ASSUME RETAIL IS THOSE MONTHS AFTER CHRISTMAS.

SO YOU ARE REALLY TRYING TO MAXIMIZE WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW AND THEN CONSERVE AND BE ABLE TO NOT HAVE TO DO LAYOFFS AND PREPARE FOR IT.

AND THAT'S THE HARDEST THING IN OUR BUSINESS IS PREPARING AND BALANCING A BUDGET THAT WORKS FOR US TO GET THROUGH UNTIL SPRING.

>> YEAH.

AND ERIKA, THIS IS YOUR FIRST YEAR IN TEN YEARS TO NOT HAVE YOUR STORE FRONT ALONG SOUTH BROADWAY.

YOU MOVED.

YOU HAD TO BECAUSE OF HIGH RENT.

YOU ARE IN A NEW SPOT.

SHORTER HOURS.

HOW ARE THINGS GOING FOR YOU?

>> IT HAS BEEN A VERY HUMBLING EXPERIENCE.

IT HAS BEEN VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE'RE ONLY SURVIVING BECAUSE I'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS TEN YEARS.

WERE I A NEW RETAIL SPACE TO COME INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD, I WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD IN THE WATER.

QUITE FRANKLY.

IT JUST TAKES TIME TO BUILD UP THAT RECOGNITION FOR FOLKS TO KNOW THEY HAVE TO WALK BY YOU TEN TIMES BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY COME IN.

SO I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, WHAT I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT IS ALL THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT I'M TALKING TO WHO ARE WAY DOWN.

THAT INCLUDES THE MARKETS.

THERE ARE SO MANY MARKETS FOR PEOPLE TO CHOOSE FROM.

AND FOLKS ARE, TYPICALLY, GOING AND DOING IT AS AN ACTIVITY TO SPEND TIME, TO KILL TIME WITH THEIR KIDS.

TO GO DRINK.

TO DO OTHER THINGS.

THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY SPENDING.

WE'RE JUST NOT SEEING THAT.

THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS, MOST OF US, MYSELF INCLUDED, WE ARE NOW FEELING THE PAIN OF WHAT WE HAD TO DO FOR COVID.

SO WE KIND OF HAD A BUMP AFTER IN SPENDING.

AND NOW WE HAVE TO RECOVER WITH A TON OF DEBT.

SO I THINK THAT IS A COMPONENT THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT REALLY TALKING ABOUT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

PATTY, AT WESTWARD YOU ARE CONSTANTLY UPDATING PEOPLE.

WHAT THEY CAN DO EVERY WEEK, WHERE THEY CAN GO, WHERE THEY CAN SPEND THEIR MONEY.

BECAUSE YOU REALIZE SMALL BUSINESS IS SO VITAL FOR OUR GREATER COMMUNITY TO THRIVE.

>> YES.

WE HAVE TYPED THE WORD MARKET I THINK 400 TIMES.

AND ERIKA IS RIGHT, IT'S WONDERFUL THERE ARE SO MANY LOCAL MARKETS HELPING LOCAL CRAFTERS, LOCAL MAKERS.

BUT IF YOU DON'T GO SPEND A LOT THERE, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT.

THIS IS THEIR BIG SEASON.

AND WHAT YOU SEE IS A HABIT SO MANY PEOPLE REALLY PICKED UP DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND IT WAS ALREADY TRENDING AS ONLINE SHOPPING, WHICH IS SO EASY.

PEOPLE GOT IN THE HABIT.

AND IF THEY DON'T GO OUT, THEY ARE NOT HELPING THEIR LOCAL STORES.

IT MIGHT COST YOU A LITTLE MORE.

YOU HAVE TO GO OUT TO THE ENTERTAINMENTS.

GO OUT AND EAT FOOD AT A LOCALLY OWNED RESTAURANT.

GO OUT AND SHOP LOCAL.

OR THEY ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT INTO JANUARY AND FEBRUARY.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO ASK EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR TAKE ON THE FUTURE OF LOCALLY-OWNED RETAILS AND RESTAURANTS IN COLORADO.

THE FUTURE.

THIS IS BEYOND JANUARY AND FEBRUARY.

THERE IS NOW A NATIONAL INFLUENCE WHEN IT COMES TO WHO OWNS A LOT OF THE PROPERTIES IN COLORADO.

FRANK, I'M HEARING SOME OF THE BIG LANDLORDS IN THE DENVER AREA ARE NOT FROM COLORADO.

THAT MEANS THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SHAPING OUR COMMUNITIES DON'T REALLY KNOW MUCH ABOUT OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> YEAH.

I THINK WE ARE SEEING THAT IN ALL THE DEVELOPMENT THAT IS HAPPENING THROUGHOUT DENVER.

ALL THE APARTMENT BUILDINGS GOING UP.

MOST OF THEM ARE NOT EVEN PUTTING RETAIL IN AT THIS POINT.

I KNOW THE ONES NEAR US ON SEVENTH AND GRAND, THERE IS VERY LITTLE RETAIL.

THEY ARE NOT CONNECTED TO OUR COMMUNITY LIKE IT ONCE WAS.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT OUR -- MY LANDLORD TEN YEARS AGO WERE ALL LOCAL LANDLORDS.

AND THEY ARE JUST NOT THAT ANYMORE.

THEY ARE FROM CALIFORNIA OR NEW YORK OR NORTH CAROLINA.

THEY ARE JUST NOT IN TOUCH WITH WHAT'S GOING ON AND THEY ARE RUN BY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES THAT ARE MASSIVE MANAGEMENT COMPANIES THAT DON'T SEE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THE JOB AND DON'T CARE WHAT YOUR SALES ARE.

THEY ARE ONLY LOOKING AT IT FROM A SPREAD SHEET AS TO, AM I HITTING MY NUMBER ON THIS BUSINESS?

AND IS THERE SOMEONE THAT CAN REPLACE THEM?

BECAUSE I DON'T CARE WHAT IT IS.

AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT IT FEELS LIKE IT'S MAYBE NOT JUST MY OPINION, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS REAL AND IT'S HAPPENING.

>> ERIKA, IT SEEMS LIKE YOU HAVE THE EXCEPTION.

YOU HAVE FOUND GREAT LANDLORDS IN WHITTER.

>> YES.

ONE REASON WE HAD TO LEAVE BAKER, WE HAD SOMEONE WHO BOUGHT THE BUILDING WHO RAISED THE RENT.

AND I JUST COULD NOT CUT IT.

THERE WAS NO WAY I COULD JUSTIFY.

ESPECIALLY WITH OUR GIVING BACK.

MY PRIORITY IS REALLY, HOW ARE WE MAXIMIZING OUR IMPACT?

SO IF I'M DOING THAT AT A COST, IT REALLY ISN'T EFFECTIVE.

AND WHO DID I FIND THAT SPACE THROUGH WAS ANOTHER SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.

SO I THINK THE OTHER PART OF THIS IS, THERE IS STILL A COMMUNITY THAT IS REALLY LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER.

I WOULD NOT HAVE FOUND THAT SPACE.

THERE ARE LIKE A HANDFUL OF SPACES.

WE'VE ALL LOOKED AT THEM.

EVERYBODY WHO IS LOOK FOR SPACE HAS SEEN THE SAME SPACES.

IT WAS VERY LUCKY.

AND I KNOW FOR A FACT I GOT THAT SPACE BECAUSE OF PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME.

WHO RECOMMENDED TO THIS.

IT'S AN OLDER COUPLE THAT LIVES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS VERY INVESTED IN WHAT GOES IN THERE.

I WOULD ALSO CAUTION THAT US LEAVING HAS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON EVEN THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE BUILDING.

SO WE KNEW OUR NEIGHBORS UPSTAIRS.

I WAS CHECKING ON PEOPLE.

WE HAD SOMEBODY THAT WAS GOING THROUGH CANCER TREATMENT AND I WAS ABLE TO HELP GET THEM CONNECTED TO SOME RESOURCES.

SO I THINK WE FORGET, TOO, THE RIPPLE EFFECTS OF THAT ARE ALSO ABOUT THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF THE COMMUNITY AND KNOWING WHO IS AROUND.

>> SO WHEN A BUSINESS LEAVES, IT'S NOT JUST ONE BUSINESS STORE FRONT GOING AWAY, THERE IS A LOT OTHER PEOPLE AFFECTED.

OKAY.

THE COST OF LIVING IS NO DOUBT AN ISSUE WHEN IT COMES TO EXTRA INCOME GOING OUT, BUT THE BUILDING CONTINUES.

AND PEOPLE ARE MOVING HERE TO COLORADO IN DROVES.

AND NOT JUST DENVER, OTHER AREAS OF OUR STATE AS WELL.

PATTY, ONE MIGHT THINK THERE ARE MORE CONSUMER HAS ARE SPENDING MORE IN COLORADO.

BUT MAYBE ARE THERE TOO MANY OPTIONS?

>> WELL, THERE ARE NOT ACTUALLY THAT MANY PEOPLE MOVING INTO DENVER.

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT.

BUT PEOPLE ARE MOVING OUT, TOO.

SO THE GROWTH IS NOT AS ASTRONOMICAL AS PEOPLE THINK IT IS.

WHAT IS HUGE IS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE MOVING INTO THOSE APARTMENT BUILDINGS THAT FRANK MENTIONS THAT DON'T HAVE RETAIL ANYWHERE.

OR THEY ARE MOVING INTO OR BOUGHT THEIR SECOND HOME.

LET'S SAY IN THE MOUNTAINS, IN THE RESORT AREAS, WHERE THEY ARE UPPING THE PRICES WHICH MAKES IT HARDER FOR LOCALS TO AFFORD RENT, WHICH MEANS THEY CAN'T AFFORD OTHER THINGS.

BUT WHAT MAKES PEOPLE LIKE DENVER, IT'S NOT JUST THE BEAUTIFUL SETTING, BUT IT'S THE LOCAL PEOPLE AND THE LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS LIKE THE PEOPLE AT THIS TABLE WHO HAVE CREATED A COMMUNITY IN BUSINESS, IN RESTAURANTS, AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK EVERYONE IS STILL LOOKING FOR.

BUT IF YOU DON'T GET OUT AND SPEND YOUR MONEY, IT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM.

WHEN FRANK WAS TALKING ABOUT LANDLORDS FROM OUT OF STATE, YOU LOOK AT LAMIER SQUARE, ONE OF FRANK'S RESTAURANTS.

THAT IS OWNED BY A NORTH CAROLINA OUTFIT.

AND THERE IS ALMOST NO RETAIL STORES.

THEY ARE REVAMPING IT.

LET'S HOPE THEY BRING BACK IN LOCALS.

>> THE PEOPLE MOVING HERE MIGHT HAVE SECOND HOMES, WHO ARE THEY, ED?

WHERE ARE THEY SPENDING?

>> THERE IS TWO WAYS TO LOOK AT COMMUNITY.

ONE IS NOT JUST WHO IS MOVING HERE.

WHO IS MOVING IN?

A LOT OF PEOPLE MOVED IN FROM THE COAST, FRANKLY.

THEY MOVED OUT OF MORE CROWDED AREAS BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT COLORADO WAS LESS CROWDED.

AND THIS MAKES PEOPLE GASP, LESS EXPENSIVE THAN THE PLACES THEY WERE COMING FROM.

YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, THEY DON'T HAVE THE LOCAL LOYALTY YET.

THEY ARE NOT MOVING IN HERE SAYING WHERE IS MY LOCAL RESTAURANT?

IT'S NOT JUST THOSE FOLKS.

I WAS AT AN INTERESTING TALK, BART WATSON GAVE NOT TOO LONG AGO, WHERE HE SAID THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS WHO ARE RAISED ON COMPUTER SHOPPING AND COMPUTER FOOD ORDERING, ARE LESS LOYAL TO LOCAL THAN ANY GENERATION BEFORE THEM.

THEIR RUSH TO PRESERVE LOCAL WE SAW DURING THE GREAT RECESSION ISN'T THERE IN GEN Z AT THIS POINT.

THAT PLAYS A ROLE IN PEOPLE NOT NECESSARILY LOOKING TO THE LOCAL SHOPS, BUT GETTING ONLINE, ORDERING THIS.

GETTING ONLINE AND ORDERING MY FOOD.

THE OTHER PART OF MANAGEMENT IS, COMMUNITIES NOT JUST WHERE YOU LIVE IS WHERE YOU WORK TOO.

WE ARE STILL AT 56% OF RETURN OF FOLKS FROM PREPANDEMIC TIMES THAT ARE WORKING DOWNTOWN IN DENVER.

UNLESS WE START TO SEE MORE PEOPLE COME BACK, AND I'M NOT BLAMING THE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T WORKING DOWNTOWN, THERE IS CLEARLY PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES THAT THE DOWNTOWN DENVER PARTNERSHIP AND THE MAYOR ARE WORKING TO ADDRESS AT THIS POINT.

BUT UNLESS WE SEE THAT COMING BACK, THAT IS GOING TO STUMP THE COMMUNITY TOO.

YOU CAN'T HAVE PEOPLE BUNKERING UP IN THEIR HOUSE AND EXPECTING THEM TO SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES AROUND THEM.

HAY HAVE TO BE OUT AND ABOUT EVERY DAY.

AND THAT WILL BE KEY TO LOCAL BUSINESSES.

>> THERE ARE ATTEMPTS TO JUMP-START LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

WHEN ONE ATTEMPT FIZZLES THERE IS ANOTHER SUGGESTION.

THE CITY OF DENVER IS TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR THE BUSINESS FACADE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM WHICH IS OFFERING FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO SMALL BUSINESSES.

THE CITY WILL CONTRIBUTE AT LEAST 10% OF A PROJECT'S TOTAL BUDGET AND APPLICATIONS CLOSE BY THE 21st OF THIS MONTH.

>> SO I ACTUALLY REMMED THIS TO -- RECOMMENDED THIS TO MY LANDLORDS.

SHE ATTENDED THE ZOOM AND SAID THIS IS NOT FOR US.

BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY HAVE STRUCTURED IT, I WAS INITIALLY AGGRAVATED.

BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHO DID THEY TALK TO TO DECIDE THIS WAS HOW WE WANTED THE MONEY TO BE SPENT?

MOST OF US WOULD SAY IT'S INSIDE OUR SPACES, NOT ON THE OUTSIDE.

BECAUSE ALL OF THAT IS GOING TO DO IS INCREASE THE VALUE AND JACK UP OUR RENT.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE THEY CAME UP WITH THE DATA ON THAT.

HOWEVER, I WOULD SAY, NOW KNOWING THAT IT'S A CHALLENGE TO EVEN NAVIGATE THE PROCESS.

FOR EXAMPLE, I WOULD HAVE TO APPLY ON BEHALF OF MY LANDLORD, BUT WE'RE IN A LITTLE STRIP.

SO THERE IS FIVE BUSINESSES.

SO THEY -- ONLY I COULD APPLY.

AND THEN THE LANDLORD HAS TO ACCEPT LIKE A FIVE-YEAR LEASE.

AND IT WAS A WHOLE PRODUCTION.

AND SO IT WOULDN'T WORK.

SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, AGAIN, WHO IS THIS FOR?

WHAT IS THE GOAL?

THE LANGUAGE IN IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OFFENSIVE TO ME.

BECAUSE IT WAS, CLEARLY, MEANT FOR VERY SPECIFIC PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN INVESTMENT IN A PARTICULAR BUILDING.

>> OKAY.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT.

THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT IS OUT THERE WHEN, AGAIN, CONSUMERS ARE REMINDED THAT, HEY, IT'S TIME TO HELP OUT WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES.

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY.

WE JUST HAD COLORADO GIVES DAY ON TUESDAY.

AND PEOPLE GAVE.

>> PEOPLE GAVE A LOT OF MONEY.

BUT WHAT THEY HAVE TO REMEMBER IS, IT'S NOT -- THAT WAS FOR NONPROFITS.

AND MANY OF THE LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE NOT NONPROFIT, OFFICIALLY.

ALTHOUGH THEY MIGHT FEEL VERY NONPROFIT AT THE MOMENT.

SO YOU HAVE TO GO OUT AND JUST KEEP SPENDING THE MONEY AND THE MONEY WILL KEEP MOVING AROUND.

BUT ALL THE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS THAT CAME THROUGH IN COVID A LOT OF THOSE WEREN'T SO EASY TO APPLY FOR.

AND THE PROGRAMS OUT THERE NOW, LIKE THE ONE ERIKA CITED, THEY ARE NOT EASY TO DEAL WITH EITHER.

TO APPLY FOR GRANTS, TO APPLY FOR SO MANY OF THOSE PROGRAMS, TAKES YOU MORE TIME THAN YOU HAVE WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO RUN YOUR BUSINESS.

ERIKA WROTE A REALLY WONDERFUL PIECE ABOUT DONATING FOR CAUSES.

BUT IF YOU'VE GOT A HUGE OVERHEAD OR EVEN OVERHEAD ON THAT OR TIME THAT IS LED WHEN YOU TRY TO HELP PEOPLE, YOU SHOULD GO DO SOMETHING DIRECT.

WHICH IS BUY, BUY IN THE CASE OF TRYING TO HELP A SMALL BUSINESS, OR GIVE A GIFT CARD IN THE CASE OF TRYING TO HELP SOMEONE GOING THROUGH A CRISIS.

>> MUTUAL AID IS WHAT YOU WROTE ABOUT.

THAT IS GOOD.

AND ONE HUGE, HUGE RETAIL COMPANY THAT IS BASED IN DENVER THAT MOVED ITS CORPORATION HEADQUARTERS TO DENVER ANNOUNCED A BIG SHIFT THIS WEEK.

>> PEOPLE MAY NOT THINK ABOUT LOCAL BUSINESS AND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD AND GIANT BRANDS LIKE VANS AND NORTH FACE, BUT THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE.

THE VF CORPORATION HEADQUARTERED HERE IN DENVER, THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES IN DENVER, PARTED WAYS WITH THEIR CEO AFTER A PRETTY ROUGH YEAR.

PEOPLE SAY, HOW DO I SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS?

HERE'S HOW THE RIPPLES GO THROUGH THE AFFECT.

THEY HAVE INVESTED A LOT IN YOUING IN CHINA.

THAT MARKET HAS SLOWED TO A CRAWL AT THIS POINT BECAUSE OF THE RESTRICTIONS IN CHINA.

THEY ARE FEELING THAT.

VF'S BIGGEST BRAND IS VAN.

YOU MAY REMEMBER THEM.

YOU PROBABLY WORE THEM AS A KID.

BUT THEY ARE NOT HOT ANYMORE.

BECAUSE OF THAT, WE ARE NOW STARTING TO SEE THAT RIPPLE THROUGH ALL OF THEIR COMPANIES.

SOME OF VF'S LOCALLY HEADQUARTERED COMPANIES LIKE NORTH FACE AND ULTRA RUNNING SHOES ARE DOING WELL.

BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS THEY SEE WITH THEIR OTHER BRANDS, VANS, STICKIES, THEY'VE HAD LAYOFFS.

ABOUT 600 PEOPLE WORLDWIDE MANY OFFICES HAPPENED EARLIER THIS YEAR.

AND FINALLY AFTER A THIRD TIME IN THREE MONTHS THAT THE COMPANY SAID, LOOK, OUR EARNINGS IS NOT GOING TO BE WHAT WE FORECAST THEM TO BE.

THEY PARTED WAYS WITH THEIR CEO AS WELL.

THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT DO DEPEND ON THAT AND THE RIPPLES OF THE WORLD ARE PLAGUE IN.

>> AND THOSE PEOPLE THAT WORK THERE COULD GO TO A FRANK RESTAURANT OR TO HOPE TANK.

IT ALL IS VERY CONNECTED.

TRYING TO LOOK FOR SOME GLIMMER.

FRANK, THERE WAS A REPORT OUT THIS WEEK.

DELLOYD HAS A HOLIDAY SHOPPING FORECAST EVERY YEAR.

THEY SAID THERE IS ONE THING THAT IS SURE IN TERMS OF THEIR SURVEY.

DESPITE HOUSEHOLD FINANCES, THE WEAKEST LEVEL IN A DECADE, AMERICAN CONSUMERS ARE NOT GIVING UP WHEN IT COMES TO PRIORITIZING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE TOGETHER WITH PEOPLE AND SOCIALIZING.

ARE YOU SEEING THAT IN YOUR RESTAURANTS?

>> WE ARE SEEING IT IN OUR RESTAURANTS.

AND I THINK IT GOES BACK TO WHAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT LOCALLY.

I'VE SEEN MY SMALLER, OLDER RESTAURANTS DOING THE BEST THEY'VE DONE IN YEARS.

RIGHT?

BECAUSE WE ARE A NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE ARE JUST SEEING THOSE KINDS OF GATHERINGS.

PEOPLE AND FRIENDS GETTING TOGETHER.

AND THAT'S REALLY -- THAT REALLY WARMS OUR HEART TO SEE THOSE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOREVER.

LIKE YOU WERE SAYING, YOU CAN'T BE A BRAND NEW RESTAURANT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO START.

RIGHT?

ALL BUSINESSES ARE DIFFICULT TO START.

THAT FIRST YEAR IS BRUTAL.

BUT WHEN YOU HAVE -- WE HAVE THESE RESTAURANTS THAT ARE OLDER THAT ARE STILL CAPTURING PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY ARE COMING BACK IT'S NOSTALGIC, IT'S WARM, IT'S FRIENDLY, IT'S INVITING, YOU KNOW IT, WE ARE SEEING THAT.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS GREAT.

WHAT WE ARE NOT SEEING IS LUNCH BUSINESS DOWNTOWN.

WE ARE NOT SEEING THE LUNCHEONS WITH PEOPLE FROM THE OFFICES GETTING TOGETHER.

AND THAT'S TRULY THE THING THAT IS KILLING, NOT KILLING, BUT HURTING OUR BUSINESSES DRAMATICALLY.

THERE ISN'T THAT INCOME COMING IN FROM THE LUNCH CROWD.

BECAUSE THERE IS NO ONE DOWN THERE.

AND THAT'S THE HARDEST THING.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I DO FEEL THERE IS GROUPS OF PEOPLE COMING IN TO HAVE FUN AND CELEBRATE AND REALLY ENJOY GOING OUT.

IT'S THE BEST WAY TO TREAT YOURSELF, QUITE HONESTLY.

GO OUT AND LET SOMEONE TAKE CARE OF YOU.

>> I'M WITH YOU.

I NEED ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS.

[ LAUGHTER ] NOW LET'S KICK OFF OUR LIGHTNING ROUND WITH OUR PANELISTS.

TALKING ABOUT THE GOOD, THE BAD THAT TRANSPIRED DURING THE WEEK.

PATTY, LET'S START WITH YOU.

YOU MIGHT SAY, WHO IS DESERVING OF THE COAL IN THE STOCKING THIS WEEK?

>> DENVER IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO COME TO WHEN YOU WANT TO.

BUT FOR THE REFUGEES WHO WERE JUST SHOVELED HERE IN A BUS, IT'S STILL VERY UNKNOWN EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK.

LUMP OF COAL TO WHOEVER DID THAT TO THEM WHEN DENVER WASN'T READY TO RECEIVE THEM.

>> THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH ATTENTION FACED ON CHINA LOOSENING ITS COVID POLICIES, IT OVER SHADOWS THE FACT THEY ARE CRACK DOWN ON PROTESTS.

AND WHEN THINGS ARE HAPPENING THERE THEY ARE FLOODING THE INTERNET WITH CRAP SO WE DON'T SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THEIR COUNTRIES.

AND THAT HAS TAKEN OUR VISION OFF OF WHAT OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN IRAN, THEY ARE CRACKING DOWN ON PEOPLE TOO.

THIS IS A CALL, DO NOT LET THESE COUNTRIES OFF THE HOOK BECAUSE OF ONE SMALL CHANGE IN COVID RESTRICTIONS.

>> AND I GUESS MY COAL IN THE STOCKING WOULD BE FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE YOU SO NEGATIVE ALL THE TIME.

I THINK WE JUST NEED SOME POSITIVITY.

AND MORE HAPPINESS OUT THERE.

AND SOME LANDLORDS THAT ARE WILLING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR BUSINESSES ARE AND WHAT WE ARE PROVIDING TO THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND NOT JUST SEE US AS A REPLACEABLE WIDGET.

THAT'S MY COAL.

>> YOU ARE NOT REPLACEABLE.

NO, YOU ARE NOT.

ERIKA.

>> I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, IN THAT SAME VAIN OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING AND MAKING THESE POSTS ABOUT HOW SAD THESE BUSINESSES CLOSING IS AND I SAY, WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU WENT?

AND THEY WILL SAY, LIKE TWO YEARS.

I DON'T KNOW.

AND SO IT'S -- FOR ME, IT'S MUCH MORE ABOUT NOT SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY, BUT THE 365 OTHER DAYS.

364 OTHER DAYS OUT OF THE YEAR WHERE YOU COULD BE REALLY HAVING FUN IN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY.

>> BE MORE PROACTIVE.

ACTIVE PARTICIPANT.

YEAH.

WHAT IS HAPPENING THAT IS SUPER THAT MAKES YOU A BIT MORE MERRY.

>> BACK TO TYPING OUT THE LISTINGS, GET UP AND GO OUT.

GO SEE CIVIC CENTER.

DENVER ZOO.

AND THEN GO EAT AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT.

STAY OUT ON THE TOWN.

>> AT A TIME WHEN WE SO OFTEN JUDGE THINGS BY WINS AND LOSSES, I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE MEN'S SOCCER TEAM WHO DIDN'T WIN THE CUP BUT IMPROVED A LOT AND INSPIRED A LOT OF PEOPLE.

LIKE MY 8-YEAR-OLD SON.

>> GOOD.

>> AND I WOULD HAVE TO DITTO WHAT PATTY SAID.

IT'S ABOUT GOING OUT AND ENJOYING WHAT OUR CITY HAS TO OFFER.

THERE IS A REASON WHY WE HAVE LIVED HERE FOR SO LONG.

IT IS THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL CITY WITH BEAUTIFUL BUSINESSES AND GREAT BUSINESS OWNERS.

AND THERE IS SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY.

WE HAVE A GREAT THEATER PROGRAM.

WE HAD A GREAT THEATER YEAR ACTUALLY THIS YEAR.

I THINK JUST TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.

AND GO OUT AND SUPPORT PEOPLE AND BE KIND.

>> AND BE KIND.

YES.

>> FOR ME A VERY PERSONAL WEEK FOLLOWING THE TRAGEDY AT CLUB Q.

IT IS, AS ALWAYS, SMALL BUSINESSES WHO HAVE SHOWED UP.

WE ARE DOING A COLLECTION FOR THE KIDS WHOSE PARENTS WERE IMPACTED.

SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT CHRISTMAS.

BECAUSE CONTRARY TO SOME OF THE PRESS, FOLKS ARE NOT GETTING MONEY.

THE FUNDS ARE NOT GETTING TO PEOPLE.

AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE HAVING A CHRISTMAS THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT.

AND THE SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE SHOWN UP WITH DONATIONS, WITH GIFT CARDS.

IT'S INCREDIBLE AND WE JUST NEED MORE.

>> AND I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOMETHING AS WELL.

A BIG CONGRATULATIONS THIS WEEK TO MY GOOD FRIEND AND FORMER PARTNER AT 9 NEWS GARY WHO HAS RETIRED AFTER DECADES AT THE STATION AND MANY MORE DECADES IN THE FIELD OF JOURNALISM.

YOU ARE AN AMAZING WRITER, COMMUTATOR, AND FRIEND.

CONGRATS, GARY.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR TIME THIS WEEK.

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM THE AUDIENCE AS WELL.

WE WELCOME YOUR THOUGHTS ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES OR E-MAIL US AT CIO@PBS12.ORG.

AND ONE MORE REMINDER, YOU CAN CATCH THE SHOW AT TIME ON YOUTUBE OR PBS12.ORG.

I'M KYLE DYER.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING COLORADO INSIDE OUT.

WE'LL SEE YOU HERE NEXT FRIDAY ON PBS 12.