Home is where the heart is, and Five Points is home to the beloved Welton Street Cafe, which has finally made its return to the Welton Street corridor.
For nearly forty years, the hometown eatery has served up hot, fresh, home-cooked food as a staple in the community. After closing their doors in March 2022 due to hardship, the restaurant’s co-owner, Fathima Dickerson, has one message for the community: “We are back, and better.”
Built on a Dream
Flynn and Mona Dickerson moved from the Virgin Islands to Colorado in the 1970s, bringing their dream of sharing island-inspired Southern dishes to the states.
Since then, the Dickerson family has worked tirelessly to serve food that warms both the soul and the community. Their journey has made Welton Street Cafe a beloved institution in Denver’s historically Black neighborhood, and their dream has sustained its operations throughout decades of social and economic change in the area.
For nearly three years, the owners of the popular soul food restaurant have endured the arduous process of reopening. First, they were faced with the Coronavirus pandemic, which they survived by offering take-out when city mandates prevented customers from dining in.
Then, in 2021, they were met with another challenge and were nearly forced to close when a malfunctioning HVAC system created an unsafe work environment.
In 2022, after opting out of a lease renewal, they opened in a temporary location at 2258 California Street, offering a take-out menu that allowed the community to continue to support the establishment while continuing to order the food they loved.
Finally, after finding a new home at 2883 Welton Street and undergoing lengthy renovations, friends, family and supporters were invited to a soft opening to preview the beautiful, new space.
Moving Forward
For Dickerson, operating Denver’s oldest Black-owned restaurant is a uniquely meaningful act of entrepreneurship that extends beyond the everyday chore of feeding hungry guests. It’s a family affair that extends to the entire community, and its story of resilience and renewal is one that represents hope.
“The community has missed us,” she says. “We have missed the community.
Founded in 1999, the original location at 27th and Welton welcomed families, actors, travelers, politicians, reality stars and regular customers through its doors. Guests would show up, eager to order “soul food with a Caribbean twist,” and leave with a newfound sense of community and kinship that kept them coming back to the welcoming atmosphere.
The institution became known as a cultural beacon – the longest-running and last of its kind, surviving gentrification and transformation with loyal customers who refused to let a few roadblocks stand in the way.
When the Dickersons turned to the community to express the need for help, people from all walks of life showed up for them, donating $100,000 to help with the cost of renovations in the new space.
With a bright future ahead, Welton Street Cafe’s journey is a story of survival, proving that with resilience, family and community, anything is possible.
All About Family
Since opening in 1999, Welton Street Cafe has existed as a family cornerstone. Operations continue to be run by the founding Dickerson’s children: Cenya, Chereka, Fathima and Fathim. Together, their dedication to the community has ensured that their legacy on Welton Street and in the city of Denver will live on for years to come.
The restaurant has provided service to large groups of families throughout the years, and now with even more space, groups will be able to comfortably stretch their legs, fill their bellies and enjoy the warm environment.
Groups and solo diners alike are invited to embrace this gathering place, where people from all walks of life come together to enjoy finger-licking, melt-in-your-mouth comfort food.
“Many of our loyal customers are families. There will be tables of 8 or 10 people, and they are all family,” says Dickerson. We are a place for families.”
Same Street, New Space
Welton Street Cafe may reside in a new building, but the foundation that makes the restaurant special remains the same.
The new location is outfitted with chic, modern decor, and now boasts a full bar serving a vibrant drink menu that patrons can enjoy while waiting for their food.
The lunch and dinner menu features many of the same favorites that locals know and love, including crispy fried chicken, Caribbean-inspired fried bread and patés, greens, yams and specialty honey hot wings.
“The space is so colorful and vibrant now,” Dickerson says. “It is a reflection of where we are now in our business, and we are just happy we can create that safe space for our customers again. Our customers are family to us.”
Justin Great, a local creative and owner of the branding company, Luxpira-tion, created the new Welton Street Cafe logo, which consists of the restaurant’s name and a star colored in green, yellow and red. Inside the restaurant, the original “Southern and Caribbean Cooking” sign sits on display.
An endearing addition to the space appears in the form of a mural depicting the matriarch of the Dickerson family. Painted by local artist, Paul Vismara, a smiling, afro-wearing Mona graces the wall. Her daughter says proudly, “It is a symbol of who we are.”
Dinner is Served
Now open for business, Welton Street Cafe is accepting dine-in reservations and urges patrons to schedule ahead.
Dickerson’s excitement about the future of the restaurant radiates from her eyes, which glow as she describes plans for its grand opening. She reminds the community to be patient and extend grace as they continue to acclimate to the new space and prepare for a return to regular service.
Bring an appetite for home cooking and visit the establishment that’s creating history right here in the heart of Five Points. .
Editor’s note: To schedule reservations and learn more about Welton Street Cafe, visit www.weltonstreetcafe.com.
