Shapiro: Creating a food court at Aspen Armory would bring down prices

I attended the City Council meeting last Tuesday afternoon with discussion of a food court at the Armory located in the core of Aspen. City Manager Sara Ott was right when she said, “We need a Peaches in the day and Red Onion at night.” Peaches was a great spot for everyone to connect for a light meal or coffee and catch up with freinds. If the landlords were not so greedy on their rents this discussion would probably be different.

Having conversations with visitors has been interesting when they tell me it is too expensive to consider coming back to Aspen with their family because of the exorbitant cost to dine out at night or to even lunch with their family. Locals deserve more as well. We need to make it simple — not a hodgepodge of what some have suggested affordable-retail? No.

I volunteer one night a month at the Thrift Store — it is amazing what comes into this store when we are sorting to organize for the sale of goods. It is a wonderful place that gives back to our community and is across the street from the proposed food court. Let’s give Aspen more diversity and options so that locals and visitors alike would give Aspen what it needs. I appreciate the strong support of some of the city council members — lets do this right and we will see how the vitality of Aspen will come back and be enjoyed by all.

Keep it simple.

Susan Shapiro

Aspen