They don’t live here, they just invest here. Large real estate companies that just invest in Fort Collins for the return on their investment I believe aren’t a part of the community in the same way. Covid really exposed to me what a gem it is to have a local investor, who owns the property and lives in fort collins as a landlord. Rent rates in Fort Collins have been high both residential and commercial for a long time. I believe that having a plan that allows flexibility is the best thing and I think that did happen here because of the variance. Ideally in regards to COVID it would be helpful to have better communication of recovery plans, closure plans and opening plans. In an ideal world, what would you like from the City to help you recover and thrive in Fort Collins? The thing I feel I needed the most, no one had, a crystal ball to know what was coming and how it was going to be addressed. I also utilized the Larimer Small Business Development Center.
PINBALL PETES FORT COLLINS LICENSE
There was also great support from the City Clerk with Liquor License related information, and with Larimer County getting the variance for businesses to reopen. My local landlord at Campus West location has been outstanding just there ready to communicate and help all the way through to the other side, wherever that might be. People who love Pinball Jones and want it to survive through the COVID have been amazing and surprising. As far as what support I’ve received, you know there’s been a huge support from people of this community. COVID just kept unfolding in an unknown way. As a business owner I think most of us try to make good sound decisions and use our experience, knowledge and resources to make those decisions. Not knowing what was going to happen or for how long and now re-opening and not knowing how things are going to be. Trying to figure things out, trying to make decisions. It’s so hard to answer as it impacts so much and is still a factor in our daily lives and our futures. What has your experience been like throughout COVID? What kind of support have you received, and what was missing? It will be nice to be able to get out and support more businesses as they open and recover. Last year’s Pride looked much different as well.
My support of businesses prior to this was much different. I can’t say that I concentrate my efforts as I am a creature of habit especially now during COVID. The farmers market, Butterfly Cafe, Little on Mountain, Little Bird, Moe’s, Food Coop and Coffee beans of many different types of local roasters. I’ve been happy to support many businesses that are reopening and go figure they are mostly food related. What other Fort Collins businesses have you been excited to support during Pride Month? If I hadn’t been a business owner, I know I wouldn’t have had the types of interactions I did especially with families and individuals within the LGBTQIA+ community as it is today or has been over the past 10 years. I’ve been able to broaden my awareness and participation in a variety of ways because the community reached out to me. Possibly I was recognized as a safe space or as a friendly space already just because I am a part of the community already. I think that because of my being a part of the community I have had more opportunity to be involved as a business. How do you see your experience as a business owner and a member of the LGBTQIA+ community as different from business owners who are not part of the LGBTQIA+ community? Yet to understand that means different things to people. I want to think that most places can and should be that. It’s important for all to feel like you belong, that you are able to identify as you are and a safe space provides that. When I see and feel others having the experience of a safe space that’s when I believe I am most aware of its value. Why do you think it’s important to have spaces in our community where people feel like family and people feel safe, regardless of identity. Yet, it happens over the love, interest or nostalgia of games and we find a way to share ourselves there. No other reason why we would have connected.
It has definitely struck me before that some of the people I’ve met and spoken or even interact with regularly now happened only because of Pinball Jones, no other reason why we would have met. It’s a place where I have interactions that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity, or the thought to have anywhere else. People with different backgrounds, from different generations and interests. How the games transcend or bring together so many different people. My first thought about this is what I started to notice from when I first opened. What’s special about your business and what it brings to the Fort Collins community?
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