Downtown Entrepreneurs Awarded Community Beautification Award

If you have been in downtown Cheyenne, or even ask for a referral for where to hangout in Cheyenne, you will be directed frequently to either the Paramount Cafe or the Paramount Ballroom.

Both locations are fun areas to gather with friends and socialize. Today the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce Red Carpet Committee presented them with the beautification award for their investment in improving the community. During the presentation Jon and Renee Jelinek, owners and entrepreneurs shared that their project will be adding a porch in the back of the building which will serve all ages. A porch in the back alley will be a prime location to enjoy the outdoors because the ambiance is set by the colorful murals and historic facades of surrounding buildings.

“With the purchase of the Cafe in April 2013, we found the sense of community that we had been looking for in Cheyenne. We loved seeing it become a hub for people to get together, from business meetings to book clubs to teenagers coming to perform at Open Mic nights” shared the entrepreneurs of the Paramount Cafe, Paramount Ballroom and 2nd Floor @ the Paramount, as well as Plato’s Closest. “We wanted to expand on that, and began negotiations to buy the building. After a lengthy negotiation process, we purchased the Paramount building along with the adjacent Majestic building in October of 2015.”

Additional to the Paramount Cafe and the Paramount Ballroom, they purchased the upper floors of of the Paramount building and the Majestic building which had been vacant since the 80’s. It is now the home to innovative businesses, training resources, freelancers, and non-profits.

The Jelineks shared, “So, we began a 6 month renovation project to create a co-working office space, The Second Floor @ The Paramount. Co-working spaces are all about collaboration and creating a sense of community to help people launch and grow businesses, so it just made sense to have it become that. In spring of 2017 when the tenant in the street level space adjoining the Cafe ended her lease, we decided to expand the Cafe into the space with a craft cocktail lounge, the Paramount Ballroom. The building, which once housed the Capitol Ave Theatre and then the Paramount Theater, was once the gathering place for Cheyenne, and we hope to honor it’s history by bringing it back to it’s roots in arts, creativity and camaraderie.” They further shared “We see nothing but opportunity for downtown Cheyenne, and we feel so fortunate for having found our place.”

Congratulations to Cheyenne’s local entrepreneurs and visionaries, Jon and Renee Jelinek, owners of these awesome businesses!

• Plato’s Closet – Cheyenne, WY
• Plato’s Closet – Fort Collins, CO
• Paramount Cafe – Cheyenne, WY
• Paramount Ballroom – Cheyenne, WY
• The Second Floor @ The Paramount – Cheyenne, WY
• The Majestic Building- Cheyenne, WY

Has your business recently updated, renovated or revamped your property? Did you invest in community improvements making your business a great neighbor? You may want to share the news about your business and have the opportunity to be considered for the beautification award. Contact the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce at (307) 638-3388 to let us know what you’ve done!