Romeo Block
City and County of Denver Landmark
Landmark Preservation Commission
This property has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1889.
Location. 39° 45.572′ N, 105° 0.942′ W. Marker is in Denver, Colorado, in Denver County. It is in Highland. It is at the intersection of Zuni Street and West 30th Avenue, on the right when traveling north on Zuni Street. The marker is mounted at eye-level on the northwest corner of the subject building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2944 Zuni Street, Denver CO 80211, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Colorado’s Front Range. It is also in the American Mountain West. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: All Saints Episcopal Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Creation of the Cheeseburger (approx. 0.2 miles away); St. Elizabeth's Retreat Chapel (approx. 0.4 miles away); Trolley Town (approx. half a mile away); Denver Tramway Power Plant (approx. half a mile away); Confluence Park: Reclaiming Denver's Birthplace
this page online
Regarding Romeo Block. National Register of Historic Places № 95001485 and Colorado State Register of Historic Properties № 5DV.590.
From the National Register Nomination prepared by David W. Fox, 5/25/1995:
The Romeo Block is significant as one of the best remaining examples of a small, late 19th century, commercial block in Denver. The Romeo Block functioned as a mixed-use building within the Highlands commercial area, providing retail space for a number of small businesses as well as second-story residential units. The Romeo Block displays many design characteristics of its period and type. The ornamentation found in the multi-light clearstories, the fluted pilasters, the recessed store-front entries, the oriel windows, the decorative parapet, and the corner dome are all typical of late Victorian commercial buildings. The multiple storefronts with second-story residential units typify the small scale, mixed use commercial buildings found along trolley lines in secondary business districts. The architects of theRomeo Block took advantage of its prominent corner location and created a building both functional and distinctive.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 2, 20242. Romeo Block MarkerThe marker is on the right side of the northwest corner (front) entrance.The Baerresen Brothers Architects designed the Romeo Block in 1889. Harold William Baerresen (1846-1918) and Viggio Egede Baerresen (1858-1940) were Danish immigrants born in Copenhagen. Harold arrived in the United States in 1869 and first established himself as a carpenter and baby buggy manufacturer in Louisville, Kentucky. He moved on to Denver in 1879 where he continued his work as a carpenter while also calling himself an architect and builder. In 1884, Viggio came to Denver and the pair formed the architectural firm of Baerresen Brothers.
The original owners of the Romeo Block were Sam Barets and Louis M. Weiner. Weiner came to Denver from Chicago in 1879 after his home was destroyed in that city's great fire. Both men were liquor merchants, although with separate companies. Barets became one of the founders of the National Jewish Hospital in 1901. The Romeo Block thrived at its corner location. The terminus of the North Denver Tramway was across the street as was the original location of the Central Bank of Denver. Romeo Block tenants benefitted from the convenient access to transportation and its prominent corner location.
The Wilson Drug Company was typical of the type of small retail stores which operated in the Romeo Block. The enterprise moved
into the corner storefront in 1906 and continued in business at that location until 1918. The following year the company moved across the street to 3000 Zuni Street.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 2, 20243. Romeo BlockBy the 1940s the Romeo Block had fallen into disrepair. As the neighborhood declined after World War II, so did the Romeo Block. For the last twenty years the building has been used as a plumber's office and warehouse. Its fancy facades stood encased in stucco and wood paneling. Its masonry walls crumbled. A major federal investment tax credit restoration and rehabilitation project in 1993/94 returned the street facades to a near as-built appearance while the interior spaces were adapted to loft style apartments. The Romeo Block once again conveys a sense of commercial prosperity that historically characterized the Highland's community.
Also see . . .
1. Romeo Block (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: It was designed in 1889 by the Baerresen Brothers, Harold and Viggio, for use by five storefronts on the street level, as a rooming house on the second floor, and possibly also as a blacksmith shop in the basement. It was built in 1889 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.(Submitted on March 8, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Romeo Block (History Colorado)
Excerpt: The 1889 Romeo Block is an excellent example of the work of master architects Harold and Viggio Baerresen. A 1995 Investment Tax Credit rehabilitation project returned the brick exterior to its near original appearance. Sam Barets and Louis M. Weiner were the buildings original owners.(Submitted on March 8, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on March 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 8, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 215 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on March 8, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. Better close-up photo of the historical marker. • Can you help?
