Moving from the MidWest to Colorado (Denver, Fort Collins: rental car, fit in, apartment)

[LezlieN85]

Hello,

My long-term boyfriend and I are considering a move to Colorado to start up a franchise location of a local, quick-service restaurant. We currently live in the Cincinnati, OH area, though we actually live in the state of Kentucky (Northern Kentucky area). We are ready to get out of the midwest, and would like to move further towards the west. We have talked about California (of course), New Mexico, and possibly Washington. We feel like Colorado would be a great compromise of all the things we're looking for. We're just not sure WHERE in colorado!

Just to let you know a little bit more about us, I'm from Texas and he is from Michigan. We are both about in our mid- to late-twenties. We are very liberal, intellectual, non-religious, independent thinkers. We enjoy the arts, music in particular. We love movies, restaurants, live music, and out-door activites that don't necessarily require a ton of skill or physical strain (ie. we're not rock-climbers, but we do like hiking trails).

We don't follow sports, nor are we concerned with finding good schools or "family-oriented" neighborhoods, as we don't plan to get married or have children.

We would like to find a place to live that is near a big city (from what I've read in my research so far, I think being near Denver would be good for us, but I'm still very open to other options), but not necessarily IN the city. We would like to be be near urban activites, as well as nature activities. I would also like to be near water, if possible, though it's certainly not a deal-breaker. We would like to find a place where the people are welcoming, friendly, "laid-back", and accepting of various life-styles. As I mentioned, we are liberal and would like to find a place where the residents are, as well. Cost of living should be moderate, as we'll never be millionares running a restaurant franchise. We'd like to eventually buy a house, but would probably start by renting one...There is more I could list that would be ideal to find, but I'm afraid of limiting our options too much.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much!

[Ming Ming]

Don't tell people you're from Texas and you'll be fine. Trust me on this! I don't mention I came from California, that's just s bad.

[Mike from back east]

Boulder, Fort Collins and the Denver Metro Area are all excellent choices.

[rushhournewb]

Wow, you two have been saving your pennies to be mid-20s and have enough to buy a restaurant franchise. Good on you.

[swcolorado1]

Yeah, don't say the "T" word up here. I don't think there should be any discrimination on where you come from but it is a reality here. I had to drive a rental car for a few days that had TX plates and people were just rude to me.
I would say look at Ft Collins. It is a very vibrant community and might meet your needs.

[Ming Ming]

Originally Posted by swcolorado1

Yeah, don't say the "T" word up here. I don't think there should be any discrimination on where you come from but it is a reality here. I had to drive a rental car for a few days that had TX plates and people were just rude to me.
I would say look at Ft Collins. It is a very vibrant community and might meet your needs.

I know why is that? I have a friend from Georgia and her hubby from Texas and he claims he gets treated really bad and thinking of moving to Oregon.

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by Ming Ming

I know why is that? I have a friend from Georgia and her hubby from Texas and he claims he gets treated really bad and thinking of moving to Oregon.

Unfortunately, a lot of Texans who visit Colorado, especially the affluent ones from Texas metro areas, have a very arrogant attitude combined with a really inflated opinion of themselves. In addition, going way back to the early days of Colorado's gas and oil industry, a lot of that was dominated by Texas companies (and Texans) who had little regard for Colorado and Coloradans. The result of all that is a lot of long-term resentment by long-time Coloradans of Texans, in general. That really isn't fair to a lot of nice people from Texas, but it is a fact. Californians get a similar bad reputation, in many cases, for some of the similar reasons. As a result, you will hear in Colorado such "zingers" as:

"What is the most beautiful thing in the world?"

"A Texan leaving Colorado with a Californian under each arm."

Or,

"If God had intended Texans to ski, He would have made bull**** white."

Or,

"If Texas and Texans are so g******ed great, why are you up here?"

By the way, Texans and Californians are fairly unpopluar among long-time local residents in all of the Rocky Mountain states.

[Ming Ming]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

Unfortunately, a lot of Texans who visit Colorado, especially the affluent ones from Texas metro areas, have a very arrogant attitude combined with a really inflated opinion of themselves. In addition, going way back to the early days of Colorado's gas and oil industry, a lot of that was dominated by Texas companies (and Texans) who had little regard for Colorado and Coloradans. The result of all that is a lot of long-term resentment by long-time Coloradans of Texans, in general. That really isn't fair to a lot of nice people from Texas, but it is a fact. Californians get a similar bad reputation, in many cases, for some of the similar reasons. As a result, you will hear in Colorado such "zingers" as:

"What is the most beautiful thing in the world?"

"A Texan leaving Colorado with a Californian under each arm."

Or,

"If God had intended Texans to ski, He would have made bull**** white."

Or,

"If Texas and Texans are so g******ed great, why are you up here?"

By the way, Texans and Californians are fairly unpopluar among long-time local residents in all of the Rocky Mountain states.

So it seems.

[Idunn]

Instead of a house, perhaps plan on an underwhelming apartment and feeling you are paying too much rent for that so-called luxury.

Boulder should in many respects offer what you are seeking, minus the affordability part. So a good time to consider that business plan carefully, and if any restaurant franchise can meet your needs. Not that a good many do not exist in this state, in fact a lot do, so the question who is desperately seeking another, or where that might be.

At a guess, maybe somewhere in Denver metro for that they cannot already find by driving three blocks. Possibly in Fort Collins, who could possibly use one or two other select franchises not presently there. Although in looking one will find the offerings there can tend to be more eclectic, and this is where we begin to veer into privately run restaurants with a purpose.

The same surely goes even more so in Boulder. The Food Network program Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives covered a place on or near Pearl Street that seemed quite good. Which is more the calibre many in that area expect and will pay for. McDonald's also has outposts in town, which appear in no hurry to go anywhere, but good luck affording such a franchise, aside from the issue of pilfering someone else's turf.

Put all this another way, and if the franchise one has in mind could not afford the desired lifestyle, then what good is it? Yet a private and successful business can potentially provide a handsome living.

Another approach might lie in doing some reconnaissance in person, as in locally working for someone else initially. See what works, or what may be still missing with a market for it. Who knows, maybe even the franchise one has in mind, with at least then perhaps a better idea where ideally to site it. Restaurants are a hard enough business, with a high degree of failure, to not enter such an enterprise with the best possible chances, most knowledge—and, as requirement, love.

[countryway]

+ 1 on Fort Collins. All the points you mentioned really suggest Fort Collins in my opinion. Generally Liberal and progressive. Lots of outdoor opportunities, trails, lakes access to mountians etc. The outdoor activities are easily accessible from casual to intense. Folks here say it has more restaurants per capita than anywhere in the nation. I don't know if thats true, but there are a ton of restaurants and it is a very strong food, beer and art/music culture. Not a strongly religious environment like you may be used to in Texas and back East. Boulder would probably suit as well. There is a little more of an agrarian culture in Fort Collins than in Boulder. If being near Denver prevails, then look into Boulder.

You will most definitely fit in just about anywhere from Denver to Fort Collins along the Front Range.