Leonard Himes, Co-Coordinator of Just Minerals Events - 7/27/2021
The uncertainty of 2020 spread to 2021. A serious victim of the pandemic is the The Denver Mart (formerly the Denver Merchandise Mart). This site of the annual Denver Gem & Mineral Show served other events as well as permanent stalls for wholesalers to various trades. The events were canceled and the merchants saw their business decline and were forced to close. As a result the entire facility is reported to be in bankruptcy and not available for the September 2021 show. The building is being repurposed, maybe even torn down and replaced by warehouses. Dealers were informed that the show was being canceled unless a venue could be found. The show is managed by a Council that consists of representatives from several sponsoring clubs. The Council accepted a generous offer from the management of the Hardrock Summit to join its new event in the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver, September 15-19. (See more below.)
I co-coordinate and co-promote shows in Denver and Tucson called, simply, Just Minerals Events, with Isaias Casanova, owner of IC Minerals. Next up for us is our third annual Just Minerals and Crystals Event, September 10-13, that will be held at the Marriott Hotel (Gateway Park) ballroom, a one-minute drive from the Crowne Plaza Hotel, home of the Colorado Mineral & Fossil Show. We had planned to be at the Marriott last year, but moved to the Crowne Plaza due to COVID-19 problems. This show is a spin-off from our long-running Just Minerals Event at the Elks Lodge in Tucson. It started as a strictly wholesale event by several major mineral dealers, but due to popular demand, dealers are allowed now to have a portion of the booth for retail. Usually that's limited to 25% of the booth, but due to COVID canceling retail shows, this year we're allowing up to 50% retail to help our dealers recover. The show has been expanded from 7 to 13 dealers who will offer wholesale specimens, crystals, and gemstones, as well as retail fine minerals. On Friday, September 10, hours are from 2-9 pm to allow the only evening shopping in town, particularly so dealers from other shows can show with us. The show is open to the public at dealer prices!
We close the JM&C Event in Denver on Monday so that about half of our dealers can repack minerals and head downtown to participate in the first-ever HardRock Summit at the Colorado Convention Center on September 16-21. From the name you might not guess that this is a "mega" gem and mineral show, but it is. Actually, it is two shows, one called Evolution, which is not about biology but is a fine mineral, fossil, and gem show. It started out by inviting the (now former) Denver Fine Mineral Show dealers from the Marriott in Golden to be the core. Due to problems filling the hall and to travel restrictions, fossils and lapidary were added, and the (now former) Denver Gem & Mineral Show dealers were invited to fill a second hall. That's where all of the traditional exhibit cases will be. The second show, called Sparkle & Joy, is for gems and jewelry in the Sheraton Hotel a few blocks away where the new AGTA GemFair is also located.
My Leonard Himes business and Geokrazy are combining two booths at HardRock Summit - Evolution to bring you our very best mineral specimens to enjoy and, we hope, to be purchased. There will be lots of competition, though, because many of America's most important dealers are among the vendors, so please shop with us first, while you still have money!
There will also be hundreds of great dealers at the National Western Complex and other events in town, so there will be plenty going on in Denver in September. I recommend that you check this website to see the calendar for the 2021 Denver Gem & Mineral Showcase.
We plan to be alive in 2022 and still be in business, you can count on our venues to have your and our safety in mind. Please get vaccinated if you plan to attend. Properly worn fabric face masks will be appreciated, just in case. In fact, they may be required again by then. Remember, no vaccine is 100% effective. We will provide hand sanitizer and gloves and clean our facilities and cases often. Please cooperate and maintain safe physical distance from other shoppers. Events won't "just happen", they will be planned so they will be safe! Enjoy your collection and being able to socialize again.
