COVID-19 Closed Bar Helix

Ari Monet

The week of Thanksgiving was not the only reason to remind us to be grateful but as Denver has decided to shut down bars and indoor dining, many small businesses are being forced to close down. This too is a reminder for us all to count our blessings for the simple things like a paying job, food to eat, clothes on our back, loved ones to come home to. 

Unfortunately, a city favorite, the black-women-owned Bar Helix has had to follow suit. The owner, Kendra Anderson, was forced to close the doors to her business last Thursday. A day that most of us were with our families eating an abundance of food, Anderson was being forced to move her furniture and turn in the keys to a place that was not only home to her but to the Denver and Black community. 

Bar Helix was a space to connect with people that looked like us, a place to be us; freely. A place that sparked joy, introduced new friends, birthed evolutionary ideas and welcomed in its community to make themselves at home. This is not only a loss for Kendra but for us too. Because Anderson has been in the process of saying goodbye to her baby we were not able to sit down for a more personable story but we hope to connect soon and get perspective on what it feels like to be a business owner in these uncertain times. She plans to pivot and prevail. If you have been called to support Anderson and Bar Helix, they will receive and appreciate all of the love and support they can get. Bar Helix is currently accepting donations to pay their accumulated debt though a GoFundMe account. Anderson was surprised to check the account and was in awe at the support community has provided.

Donation Link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-bar-helix

You can view Kendra’s heartfelt goodbye here: 

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvdS5ehGVNk

“bar helix was never just my business. it represented everything to me that the word *home* is usually associated with. safe haven. a place to dream, and to be encouraged. somewhere that is always familiar, always waiting. a space to create traditions and memories, to be replayed over every year. home is where your family is, your people, your tribe, your #squad, your community. home is where we all feel comfortable -- to be seen and loved for exactly who we are. bar helix was all of this for me, and so much more.

perhaps most importantly, home is a place that brings you joy. and sometimes, if you’re as lucky as i am, you also get to create joy -- for you, and for others, many of whom i’d never met before and very likely will never see again.  bar helix -- which could only ever have existed because of you -- gave me endless joy.

i’ll never be able to fully express my gratitude for the three years of support you gave me and the many incredible members of my team. and although we are closing our doors for now, we are working hard to find a way to reopen and welcome you back as soon as we are safely able to do so.

so until we meet again, and with all of my love -- thank you.” - Kendra