Monday Business Roundup

Wireless, Windpower, and Enviro-Crocs

By Mark Phillips, 8-28-06

Boulder Coffee shops got extensive coverage this week, from the perspectives of both students and the Camera-coined "wireless working class" (My personal favorite is the under-reported back patio at Espressoria on East Pearl).

Salon's Andrew Leonard (premium membership or two-minute ad viewing required) evaluates Crocs from an environmental perspective, while Boulder County Business Report's Commercial Real Estate Source Book looks at the impact that Crocs' expansion is having on Niwot/Gunbarrel's commercial and residential real estate prospects. Leonard cites a recent Treehugger analysis which looks at the material (petroleum: bad), construction (one material: good), recycle-ability (not very: bad), manufacturing locations (some US and Canada-based manufacturers: good; 50% based in China: bad), and practices of a growing number of Crocs imitations (100% manufactured in China: bad).

Boulder's 29th Street tenants will be 500+ retail and service jobs when they open in October. A job fair at Millennium Harvest Hotel recently brought hopeful jobseekers to interview with representatives of the 51 (initially) to 72 (when the project is completed) new and relocating businesses. The development ultimately plans to offer over 850K square feet of lease-able space.

This week's Westword reports on an apparently revolutionary step being taken by the Denver Post. Scoops will post online first instead of waiting for the print news cycle to catch up. Think they've been watching New West?


Tidbits:
Vail announced that the resort will use wind-power for 100% of its electricity needs.
New Pearl Street loft developments cross the $900 per square foot threshold.
Gaiam acquired a majority stake in the parent company of Spiritual Cinema Circle. SCC's claim to fame? The company was co-founded by the producer of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Awwwwwesome.

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