On Thursday, Bastien’s Steak House on East Colfax became the first ever Googie-style building to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places!
It was preceded by the first Googie sign to be listed, Welcome to Las Vegas, in May. While other Googie buildings have been approved for National Landmark status, the buildings’ owners have not wanted the distinction.
We were lucky enough to attend a lecture on Thursday at the Grant-Humphries Mansion by Alan Hess, author of the ultimate book on ’50s coffee shop architecture, Googie Redux, where this historic Bastien’s announcement was made.
Googie Redux is Alan Hess’ expansive rework of his original 1985 book Googie: Fifties Coffee Shop Architecture.
Alan Hess is an architect, prominent architecture critic for the San Jose Mercury Newsand writer. He has written books on mid-century ranch houses, Palm Springs, Las Vegas, Frank Lloyd Wright, Oscar Niemeyer and John Lautner (the main reason why he is in Denver.)
Friday, the Denver Art Musuem is showing the film Infinite Space: The Architecture of John Lautner. John Lautner designed the famous coffee shop actually named Googie’s.
The folded-roof on this building has 24 sides! The Bastien’s family built it 1959 on the site of the Moon Drive-In, which they opened in 1937.
If you have not eaten here, Bastien’s has great food and cocktails with a beautiful interior. Stop by the bar and see for yourself!
You may have noticed the missing letters on the sign when you drive west on Colfax, but it has been that way for 35 years! Zoning regulations preclude them from making any changes to the sign.
Aside from the building, the Bastien’s sign is possibly on of the best Googie signs in Denver.
Tags:
Alan Hess,
Bastien's,
Denver,
Googie,
John Lautner,
midcentury modern,
National Register of Historic Places 
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