The Cyprus Cafe was one of the first restaurants that fell victim to the COVID-19 business closures. But former owner Alison Dance decided to bring back her Mediterranean menu at Dandelion Cafe.
Transcript
ALISON DANCE IS RETURNING TO THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS WITH HER MEDITERRANEAN-INSPIRED MENU, AND SHE HAD A LITTLE HELP FROM HER FANS TO OPEN HER DOORS. YOU’RE WATCHING THE LOCAL NEWS NETWORK, BROUGHT TO YOU BY PJ’S GOURMET MARKET. I’M WENDY GRAHAM SETTLE. THE CYPRUS CAFE ON EAST SECOND AVENUE BECAME ONE OF THE FIRST RESTAURANT VICTIMS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WHEN ITS NEW OWNERS ANNOUNCED THEY WOULD NOT RE-OPEN AFTER COLORADO GOVERNOR JARED POLIS IN MARCH CLOSED ALL RESTAURANTS IN THE STATE TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS. DANCE, THE ORIGINAL CYPRUS CAFE FOUNDER AND OWNER FOR 20 YEARS, HAD SOLD CYPRUS TWO YEARS AGO, AND THE NEW OWNERS WERE IMMEDIATELY CHALLENGED BY THE 416 FIRE, A HEAVY SNOW YEAR, AND NOW, THE PANDEMIC. BUT DANCE DECIDED SHE COULDN’T LET A GOOD MENU GO TO WASTE, SO SHE RE-OPENED THE RESTAURANT ON JUNE 15 AS THE DANDELION CAFE.
I DECIDED TO CALL IT DANDELION, THE DANDELION CAFE, AND JUST ‘CAUSE IT SOUNDED FRESH AND FUN. AND WE COULD USE SOME OF THAT RIGHT NOW. AND SO IT’S GOING TO BE JUST SORT OF A CYPRUS LIGHT, MEANING, WE’LL DO MEDITERRANEAN FOOD, A FEW SOUTHWEST DISHES, JUST KIND OF A SMALLER PARED DOWN MENU FOR THIS SUMMER.ENO’S THE WINE BAR NEXT DOOR TO THE LITTLE YELLOW HOUSE ON EAST SECOND AVENUE WILL BECOME A SALON. IN FACT, DANCE SOLD ENO FURNISHINGS IN A PARKING LOT SALE EARLIER THIS MONTH FOR A LITTLE START-UP CASH. BUT IT WAS HER FORMER CYPRUS CAFE CUSTOMERS WHO CAME TO THE RESCUE BY PRE-PURCHASING 5 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN DISCOUNTS ON FUTURE MEALS. SHE EMPLOYED AN ON-LINE FUND-RAISING PROGRAM TO RAISE THE START-UP FUNDS.
YOUR CUSTOMERS, YOUR OLD CUSTOMERS, YOUR NEW CUSTOMERS, ANYBODY WHO ARE FRIENDS WHO WANTS TO, THEY PLEDGE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY, AND I MATCH IT PLUS 50 PERCENT. SO, IF YOU GAVE ME $100 ONLINE TO HELP ME GET STARTED, I WOULD GIVE YOU $150 IN CREDIT. SO YOU’D COME IN. AND EVERY TIME YOU HAD A MEAL, YOU’D GET 50 PERCENT OFF UNTIL YOU’VE USED UP YOUR $150. SO YOU GET ALL YOUR MONEY BACK PLUS $50. SO IT’S PRETTY GOOD. IT BRINGS PEOPLE BACK AND THEY CAN BRING THEIR FRIENDS AND FEEL LIKE THEY CAN TREAT PEOPLE OR THEY CAN FEEL LIKE THEY CAN PUT A $100 OUT TO HELP ME. AND THEN THEY GET SOMETHING IN RETURN. SO I’M HOPING THAT I’LL SEE A LOT OF FAMILIAR FACES THIS SUMMER.DANCE WILL OFFER LUNCH AND DINNER THROUGH EARLY FALL AND WILL CLOSE IN WINTER. TO LEARN MORE, VISIT DANDELION CAFE DURANGO DOT COM. THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS EDITION OF THE LOCAL NEWS NETWORK, I’M WENDY GRAHAM SETTLE.
