LAKEWOOD, Colo. — The U.S. House and Senate passed a temporary spending bill Saturday that keeps federal agencies open until November 17th, allowing some local business owners to breathe a sigh of relief.
A government shutdown has a ripple effect that’s felt all over the country, including here in Denver. The Denver Federal Center's Lakewood campus brings a lot of business to nearby restaurants.
Westrail Tap and Grill usually has a good crowd.
“It’s got a pretty good buzz going on here,” said Mike Mortimer, the general manager at Westrail Tap and Grill.
The restaurant also has good food and drinks.
“Lots of good burgers, our wings are excellent,” Mortimer said.
Westrail Tap and Grill also has a good location at 195 South Union Boulevard.
“It’s a good spot,” Mortimer said.
Unless there’s a government shutdown, because it’s so close to the Federal Center.
“We are five minutes away from the Federal Center, which is just right down the street here,” Mortimer said.
Which means plenty of traffic from federal workers on the 623-acre campus, if they’re working.
“Business meetings, lunch meetings, sometimes they’ll come in for dinner as well,” Mortimer said. “Every business counts, so especially with the Federal Center being so close and all those government workers, if they don’t have jobs and they’re not getting paid, they’re not going to want to come out.”
The government did avoid a shutdown, but restaurants have heard enough of the “S” word.
"COVID shutdown as well, and we barely made it through the COVID shutdown,” Mortimer said. “I am praying it doesn’t happen and we can continue to thrive and move forward instead of backwards.”
A prayer, answered.
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