East Colfax buildings home to Lion’s Lair, dispensary, tattoo shop sold

Mark Lampert’s Family Sells Long-Held Property on East Colfax Avenue

Mark Lampert, a 71-year-old real estate veteran, recently sold the family-owned property at 2020-2040 E. Colfax Ave. for $1.6 million. The 11,000-square-foot retail space housed tenants like Lion’s Lair, a popular dive bar known for hosting punk and indie rock shows.

The property has been in the Lampert family since Mark’s great-great uncle, Max Schiff, purchased it in 1925. Over the years, the building has seen significant changes, including the ongoing installation of a bus rapid transit line along Colfax Avenue.

Despite the potential for a higher sale price after the completion of the BRT project, Mark Lampert and his family decided to sell the property to allow the next generation to take ownership and continue its legacy.

The building currently houses four retail spaces, including a liquor store, tattoo parlor, and marijuana dispensary. Mark Lampert made sure to find a buyer who would keep the existing tenants in place, even accepting a lower offer to preserve those relationships.

The buyer, Joginder Singh, expressed interest in extending the liquor store lease before Mark offered to sell him the entire property. Financing the purchase was challenging due to federal regulations on marijuana, but the Lampert family provided a loan to facilitate the sale.

While Mark Lampert has sold the property, he will continue to manage it through Ann Lampert Realty Inc., a family-owned company founded by his grandmother in the 1950s. His career in real estate has spanned decades, but he acknowledges that the family’s real estate legacy will end with him.

Reflecting on the changing landscape of Colfax Avenue, Mark Lampert remains optimistic about the future of the area. He has witnessed the street’s evolution from seedy motels to vibrant residential and commercial developments, understanding that these transformations occur in cycles.

As the property transitions to new ownership, Mark Lampert looks back on the memories and history attached to 2020-2040 E. Colfax with a mix of nostalgia and anticipation for what lies ahead.