Greeley businessman puts heart into redevelopment of downtown

GREELEY — When it comes to getting things done in downtown Greeley, there?s one man all eyes ultimately turn to: Bob Tointon.
In the midst of an ambitious downtown redevelopment and revitalization program, Tointon ? a longtime local businessman and chairman of the Greeley Downtown Development Authority ? is leading the way to create a more vibrant and prosperous city core.
?Nobody has dedicated more energy, fight, time and creativity than Bob Tointon,? said Bev Abell, the DDA?s executive director. ?I?ve been in this business a long time, but I learn from him every day.
?You dream about having someone like him to work with.?
Now about to finish his initial term as DDA chair, Tointon ? whose highly successful business, Phelps-Tointon Inc. is involved in real estate, venture capital and other enterprises ? is poised to begin a second term to carry on the work of downtown rebuilding, contingent upon the Greeley City Council?s approval.
?I?ve applied to be reappointed,? he said. ?I think it?s important work. Is it something I do for fun? No. But it?s something I feel I can make a difference by doing.?
Under Tointon?s leadership, efforts to breathe life back into downtown Greeley started to have a noticeable effect last summer when closed-off pedestrian areas on Eighth and Ninth streets were reopened to vehicle traffic and parking for downtown stores.

Seeds bearing fruit
Since then, a host of remodeling and new construction projects have gotten under way downtown and the seeds of economic progress are beginning to bear fruit.
In many instances, Tointon has personally stepped in to use his connections, influence and access to funding to help existing downtown businesses improve their situation and new businesses gain a foothold.
For example, last November it appeared that a popular downtown restaurant, The Magnus Restaurant and Bar, was about to lose its lease. Restaurant owners Pam and Amber Vahling said they expected to close the eatery when the lease expired.
That?s when Tointon offered the Vahlings a better space ? at a reduced rate? in a new downtown building being added to the Kress Building, which was also under a major renovation at the time. It was the answer to their dilemma, Pam Vahling said.
?There?s no way we would?ve stayed down here if it hadn?t been for him,? said Vahling of Tointon?s offer. ?In my opinion, he saved us totally.?
The Magnus will move to its new location ? just one block east along busy Eighth Avenue ? by the middle of June. Vahling said the move is an ?exciting opportunity.?
?In the new place we?ll have a much bigger kitchen and a banquet area,? she said. ?We?re going to take it to a new level. Not only do we get to stay in business but in a much nicer space.?
Vahling said Tointon ? a frequent customer at her restaurant ? couldn?t have been more helpful in helping her turn a crisis into progress. ?He?s just been wonderful,? she said.
Tointon was also instrumental in helping a new business ? Union Colony Dinner Theatre ? find a home downtown.
Raja and Cathy Salaymeh wanted to start their own downtown dinner theater but were having difficulty coming up with the funding ? about $120,000 ? they needed to set the project into motion. A good word from Tointon to Larry Wood, president of Union Colony Bank, led to the financing the Salaymehs needed.

No. 1 angel
?He has been our No. 1 angel,? Cathy said. ?I could go on and on about Bob Tointon and just gush about him.?
The dinner theatre is set to open July 16 on the second floor of the Union Colony Building at 802 Ninth St. with an ambitious lineup of musical and non-musical productions. Bringing more entertainment into the downtown area is a high priority for the DDA, Abell said. ?It really adds another arts element to the downtown, and it?s a great addition to bring people in after hours.?
Tointon also played a role in bringing to the downtown its newest addition ? a new arts business called Summerfield Fine Arts Gallery to be located in the Kress Building later this summer when construction is completed.
Sometimes it?s Tointon?s own money that goes into the backing of downtown business. As managing partner of a small group of local investors he prefers not to identify, Tointon said he and his partners stand ready to offer financial assistance to worthy business ideas.
?If you have a business plan and the right experience and you need some backing, we?ll put you with people interested in doing that as long as we feel it fits the downtown,? he said. ?We want to back people who have a good chance of succeeding.?
Tointon said there have been ?quite a few inquiries? into venture funding for businesses, but so far ?not that many applicants.?
As one of the downtown?s biggest property owners ? Tointon owns three major buildings including the newly remodeled Shaw and Kress buildings ? it might be said that he has a vested interest in seeing the area prosper.
But Abell said Tointon?s downtown focus is more on pride than profits.
?He is one of the biggest landowners, but his heart is the chief driving factor here,? she said.
During the DDA?s annual meeting on May 7, DDA member John Sewell credited Tointon for energizing the group?s efforts to reinvigorate the downtown. ?Without Bob Tointon, none of us would be in this room,? Sewell said. ?He puts more time and attention into this organization than anybody.?
For his part, Tointon said he just wants to see downtown Greeley become a source of pride for the city. ?The historic core of the city is really the heart and soul and defines the image of who we are,? he said.
?We want (the downtown) to be something we can be proud of,? he said. ?I?d like for (progress) to be quicker, but we?ll be measuring it in yards, not miles.?

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