Yesterday, we reported 'The Drunken Skunk' was closing its doors after several years of operating on one of downtown Cheyenne's most historic blocks. It might be wishful thinking, but here's a few establishments that I'd like in the building on 1612 Capitol Avenue.

1. An Old West Saloon - Cheyenne was built by rugged, rowdy, frontiersman who gambled in rustic saloons and raised hell in the streets. Yet, there's not a real, authentic, old west saloon downtown. If you built a credible replica of late 1880's saloon, both tourists and locals would flock to it.

2. An Irish Pub - For a town with as many bars as it has, there ins't a real, authentic Irish pub in Cheyenne. A working class, low key pub with traditional Irish decor and decent bar food could bring something new and different to the downtown bar and restaurant scene.

3. A Whiskey Bar - There is a popular bar on College Avenue in Old Town Fort Collins called The Whiskey, that serves hundreds of types of whiskey from all over the world. It's atmosphere is a classy, upscale throwback to the speak-easy era of the 1920's. A similar establishment could thrive in downtown Cheyenne.

4. A Traditional Italian Restaurant - L'Osteria Mondello makes a mean pizza. But let's be honest, it's more of a pizza parlor than an authentic Italian restaurant. Pizzeria Venti also gave it a go in downtown Cheyenne, but it was also more of a casual bistro than a fine dining atmosphere.

A true Italian restaurant with traditional decor, outstanding service, an extensive wine selection and consistently good food is something that the Cheyenne culinary scene lacks. The recent success of the Morris House Bistro has proven that local residents will pay for fine dining if the quality is there.

5. A Japanese Steakhouse - Downtown Cheyenne has the Re-O-na Sushi Bar, but raw fish is a tough sell in a meat and potatoes town like Cheyenne. A Japanese steakhouse, with hibachi grills and a large sushi bar, would appeal to more adventurous palates and the guy in the cowboy hat who just wants a ribeye. It's the type of destination that could attract the downtown lunch crowd and lure families on the evenings and weekends. Plus, who doesn't love an onion volcano?

Honorable Mention: A Locally Themed Sports bar - Sure, we have Buffalo Wild Wings and Jackson's. Sanford's could even, technically, be considered a sports bar. However, a Wyoming themed sports bar with UW, Denver Broncos, Rockies and Avalanche memorabilia, wall to wall televisions and decent bar food might have a chance downtown.

When I hit the Powerball jackpot, those are the five business I plan to open in Downtown Cheyenne. Until then, I'll just hope that investors looking to improve the city's core will beat me to it.

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