Lafayette’s Vintage Coca-Cola Mural Reunited with Old Town

 

Boulder, CO-Lafayette’s prized, vintage Coca-Cola mural, the subject of much debate since it was almost lost to history last summer, was once again given life Wednesday as crews attached the piece of Americana to its new home in Old Town.

The advertisement, which for the past 18 months was propped inside a bay of the Lafayette firehouse, now resides along the wall at 101 N. Public Road. It was first revealed in June 2015 as workers took the final steps to demolish the former La Familia building.

“It’s been a long time working through the process, but it’s a very exciting day,” said Sally Martin, chairwoman of the Lafayette Urban Renewal Authority and catalyst for the mural’s reinstatement.

A crew from Coalesce Fabrications, of Boulder, puts the restored Coca-Cola mural in place Wednesday at its permanent location at 101 N. Public Road in Lafayette.

Crowds surrounding the building waited with bated breath Wednesday as police and fire trucks halted the busy lunchtime traffic to make way for the mural.

The Mural Committee consisting of 10 Lafayette residents worked on the coordination, and 62 citizens and local businesses made donations totaling $126,000 to conserve the mural.

“There are a lot of people that put a lot of time and effort into this,” said Lafayette resident Anji Redmond, standing with a group of residents watching workers put the finishing touches on the installation Wednesday.

“It’s so nice to see it come to fruition finally.”

Back when U.S. 287 still routed through Lafayette down what is now Public Road, the site was a Hi-Way Café before becoming the popular La Familia Mexican restaurant, which closed in 2009.

Keeping with history, those involved with the project had always hoped to see the mural eventually placed along another public location.

The mural reads “Pat and Gar’s Hi-Way Bar” at the top, with “Drink Coca-Cola, it’s the real thing” sandwiched between two old-fashioned glass Coke bottles below.

The city spent about $10,000 last summer to carefully detach and transport the mural to a safer location.

For neighbors of the mural’s new home, such as Anspach’s Jewelry owner Graig Anspach, the slice of history’s return to Old Town is a welcome site.

“It’s marvelous to have such a neat historical sign across the street,” Anspach said. “Anytime you can uncover something like that, it’s exciting for the community. When they first found it I saw the crowds and their enthusiasm.

“It’s always special when you can preserve something from the past and be able to share it with the people that come through town.”