Welton Street Cafe
Written by MiDian Shofner
“Family is everything.”
Nestled in the heart of Denver’s historic Five Points neighborhood, the Welton Street Cafe is a sacred place, a cornerstone of culture and resilience, particularly in the Black community. It is a restaurant where stories are shared, and legacies are preserved. Its doors have been a gateway for over two decades, welcoming all who seek the warmth of community and the flavors of home.
Walking into the Welton Street Cafe is like stepping into a living archive. The scent of perfectly fried catfish mingles with the echoes of laughter and soulful conversations, holding memories that span generations. This is not just a place to eat; it’s a sanctuary where the struggles and triumphs of the Black experience in Denver are celebrated and honored.
Five Points, once known as the “Harlem of the West,” has long been a cultural mecca for Black artistry, entrepreneurship, and activism. Amid the waves of gentrification that have swept through this historic neighborhood, the Welton Street Cafe has stood as a steadfast anchor.
The Dickerson family, proprietors of the cafe, are the epitome of dedication and love. Flynn and Mona Dickerson moved to Colorado from the Virgin Islands in the 1970s. They have nurtured the cafe not only as a business, but as a communal table where everyone has a seat. Through their food, they have fed both the body and the soul, ensuring that traditions of cuisine and culture are passed down like sacred heirlooms of history and heart.
The nourishment from the Welton Street Cafe extends beyond its Southern style cooking with a Caribbean twist. It is a gathering place where communities have found refuge and resilience. Here, peacemakers have strategized for justice, artists have found inspiration, and elders have shared wisdom with the next generation. It is a place where dreams are nurtured, and where the community comes to be reminded of its strength and beauty. The Welton Street Cafe stands as a soulful anomaly. It is a defiant reminder that Black spaces matter, and that they are worth cherishing and preserving.
To dine at the Welton Street Cafe is to savor the richness of flavors that tell stories of migration and survival, of love and laughter. It is to sit in a space where you are not just a customer but a participant in a legacy of excellence. The importance of places like the Welton Street Cafe cannot be overstated. They are spaces that hold the heartbeat of a community. They remind us of the power of connection, the strength of heritage, and the unyielding spirit of Denver.
The Welton Street Cafe is a symbol of what it means to endure, to thrive, and to uplift. It is a culinary and cultural landmark, and an enduring testament to the power of community. It is an experience, a legacy, and a home. The Welton Street Cafe is a sacred place.
MiDian Shofner is the founder and Executive Director of The Epitome of Black Excellence and Partnership. She leads as the Co-Director of Histories of Christianity in Our City.
