lakewood never had a traditional downtown area. west colfax avenue served the metropolitan area as u.s. route 40 and the main route that joined denver with the rocky mountains. colfax from harlan west to kipling and beyond had mostly commercial establishments. originally, in lakewood, there was only the jewish conspumtive relief society (jcrs) for tuberculosis patients, a small, frame methodist church, and telephone exchange. however, by the 1950s, grocery and drug stores, gas stations, restaurants and taverns, several motels, branch banks, a movie theater, a roller rink, a bowling alley, and used car lots could be found as well. several shopping centers with multiple businesses also developed.