FoCo in 15 Minutes | Romance Bookstore, Old Town Skyline Changes, Data Center Pause & Costco Expansion

Welcome to Fort Collins Lifestyles, your weekly insider look at life, real estate, and community across Northern Colorado.This week in Fort Collins & Northern Colorado:📚 Fort Collins’ First Romance Bookstore Opens — Cherry on Top Bookshop debuts in Old Town at 119 E. Mountain Ave., featuring romance novels across multiple subgenres, a kids section, gifts, a photo booth, and event space. 🏗️ Four Projects Reshaping Old Town’s Skyline — Major developments include expansion of The Armory at the former Lyric site, “The Linden” River District apartments (160 units, 20% affordable), renovation of three vacant Linden storefronts, and redevelopment of the long-empty William S. Hill Building on Mountain Avenue. 🍕 Postcard Pizza Makes USA TODAY’s Top 39 Restaurants — The Detroit-style pizzeria inside Equinox Brewing earns national recognition for its globally inspired, crispy-edged pies like the popular Fancy Pepperoni. 🏢 Larimer County Extends Data Center Moratorium — Commissioners approve a six-month pause on new data center proposals in unincorporated areas to study energy use, water impacts, noise concerns, and regulatory frameworks. 🥕 Food Co-op Reopens in Former Beavers Market — The Fort Collins Food Co-op reopens Feb. 14 at 1100 W. Mountain Ave., doubling its footprint with expanded meat, produce, bulk goods, and eventual beer/wine offerings. 🎱 CooperSmith’s Billiards Returning — The former Poolside space is being revived with tournament pool tables, darts, shuffleboard, 20 beers on tap, and classic bar food, targeting a March reopening. 🏫 PSD Considers Possible Teacher Layoffs — Due to enrollment declines and potential funding cuts, PSD may initiate a formal reduction-in-force process to address a projected budget shortfall of up to $17 million. 🏟️ $110M Investment at The Ranch — Larimer County moves forward with a 21-acre turf Event Lawn, future amphitheater, youth sports upgrades, and potential hotel/expo center expansions funded by a voter-approved sales tax extension. 🐾 CSU’s $230M Veterinary Hospital Nearing Completion — The new 213,000-sq-ft Veterinary Hospital and Education Complex will expand animal care capacity and increase veterinary student enrollment. 🛒 Loveland Eyes Business-Assistance Pact for New Costco — A proposed agreement could bring a Costco-anchored development to Centerra, generating significant infrastructure investment and long-term city revenue. After being sworn in January 13, 2026, City Council narrowed its agenda to five priorities:1️⃣ Financial Sustainability2️⃣ Stronger Communication3️⃣ Make It Easier to Build4️⃣ Economic Vitality5️⃣ Vision ZeroAdditional focus areas include AI integration, marijuana law updates, and strengthening the creative/nighttime economy — with housing affordability woven throughout nearly every priority. • Fiesta Familiar de Lotería — Feb 21 | Old Town Library• Farm to Fork Fundraiser — Feb 20 | PSD• Fat Friday — Feb 20 | The Lyric• Pandamonium! 2026 — Feb 21–22 | Horse & Dragon Brewing• Fort Collins Foodie Walk — Feb 20 | Downtown📲 Thinking about buying, selling, or investing in Northern Colorado?Let’s connect — I help clients make confident, well-informed real estate decisions with both data and boots-on-the-ground insight.Patrick Soukup📞 Call/Text: 970-893-3533📧 Email: [email protected]🌐 Website: soukuprealestate.com