La Belle Rosette is a quaint family-owned coffee shop that rests on the edge of campus and just off University. The espresso and wine bar has served drinks, pastries and hors d’oeuvre to the DU community since 2012. Their eight years of service came to an abrupt standstill in March 2020. 

“We had to switch pretty quickly,” said Scott Gilsdorf, co-owner of La Belle Rosette. “We had to move to take-out orders only and shut down our indoor seating.”

The move from an intimate social eatery to a “here-is-your-food-and-goodbye” stop shop was a brusque break from what Gilsdorf loves about his job.

“It’s completely different,” said Gilsdorf. “The hustle and bustle of the store is gone. We have been contemplating having guests safely eat inside, but [the space] is too tight. We have some seats outside, but the vibe is off. That coffeehouse feel of people chatting and eating together is gone.”

The amiable ambiance of the cozy red-brick cafe can now only be enjoyed by those who stand behind the counter. So far, Gilsdorf has been able to keep them there. 

“We haven’t officially let anyone go,” Gilsdorf. “We had a few students who left [after DU shut down in the spring], and we had to reduce our hours and shifts. But we didn’t ever hit the point where we had to tell someone they couldn’t stay on.”

While no one has been sent home, the pandemic has been far from simple for La Belle Rosette. They have seen a 50-65% reduction in monthly sales and are struggling to pay their rent. 

“It’s been stressful,” said Gilsdorf. “Luckily, our landlords are very cooperative and want us to stay in business. They’ve worked with us on a monthly basis and let us pay what we can. We’ve had a lot of community help from people who want to support us. Just coming in to buy a coffee, burrito, or pastry really helps. I am very thankful for all the support from the DU and the University Park community.” 

Assistance has also come in the form of government aid. Gilsdorf was able to secure a few government grants and loans (including an Economic Injury Disaster Loan and a Paycheck Protection Program advance). This, along with additional support from the Denver government, has helped keep La Belle Rosette afloat. 

The pandemic has proved turbulent for La Belle Rosette, but it has prevailed. The atmosphere at the restaurant isn’t what it once was, but as time passes, the jovial aura that left in March will return. Until then, if you would like to support La Belle Rosette, you can order online or stop-in during business hours.