Colorado Big Tops

Future Ideas & Reuse

Here are some ideas for what we can do with the empty big tops. The open floor plan lends to a multitude of possibilities for reuse. If we can find a functional and purposeful use for the buildings, then their marketability increases exponentially. 

Layout of Existing Market

5185 W. 1st Ave., Denver 80219

http://www.hunterdouglascontract.com/facades/index.jsp#

http://www.roofsystemsconsultants.com/Green.htm

Proposed Idea for a Cafe/Fast Food/Small Restaurant

Elevation

Source: Robert Autobee, original artist’s rendering of the AutoMart/Big Top from 1959 for the store on South Broadway in Englewood, which was demolished in 2009

Floor Plan

Reference Articles

Big Top Disbursement

1. 5185 W 1st Ave, Denver 80219

2. 845 S Federal Blvd, Denver80219

3. 5005 W 38th Ave, Denver 80212

4. 1129 S Kendall St. Lakewood 80232

5. 3405 E. 1st Ave, Denver 80206

6. S Broadway & Orchard

7. 3100 W Jewell Ave, Denver 80219

8. 112 Del Mar Circle, Aurora 80011

9. 5801 Leetsdale Drive, Denver 80224

Site: Leetsdale Drive

5801 Leetsdale Dr. 

Occupied, Busy Road, Structure, False Skin

Continental Cleaners

Site: Preoria & Del Mar

112 Del Mar Circle

Occupied, Proximity to Major Intersection

Lek's Asian Market

Site: Federal & Jewell

3100 W. Jewell Ave.

Occupied, Secondary Road

Country Gas

Site: 1st & Cook

3045 E. 1st Ave

Occupied, Secondary Road

Gigantic Cleaners Laundry

Site: Mississippi & Kendall

W. Mississippi Ave

Vacant Lot, Secondary Road, Lower Visibility

Vacant Storage

Site: 38th & Yates

5005 W. 38th Ave. 

Vacant Lot, Secondary Road, Lower Visibility

Vacant

Site: Federal & Ida

845 S Federal Blvd

Occupied, High Visibility, Primary Location

BCI Second Life Electro

Site: 1st & Sheridan

5185 W 1st Ave.

Corner condition on main intersection - High visibility

Carniceria Guadalajara Mexican Supermarket

History

In 1957 Big Tops was introduced into the Denver metro area as a convenience store/auto mart. They were among the first convenience stores in the nation. John Roscoe, president and founder, hired William Sayer from the Denver architecture firm of Kellogg & Sayre to design the building’s circus-tent appearance. Big Tops uniqueness allowed engineers to use 3 inch thick concrete over much larger roof expands for the high-end hyperbolic paraboloid design. The 60-feet in diameter plan radiated from the center out. The auto mart was a success and by 1967, there were a total of 15 locations. There were plans to build 100 stores in the Denver area by 1970. However, by the early 1970s, Big Top sold off the buildings to other convenience store and the chains fail to prosper. Still some of the buildings were able to survive and today, five of the seven surviving buildings have been repurposed into small neighborhood business such as hair dresser, electronic dealer and florist.