  thumb|right|16th st. location the tattered cover is a bookstore in denver, colorado, and one of the largest independent bookstores in the united states. == history == the tattered cover opened in 1971 in the cherry creek district of denver, as a small . bookshop. it was purchased in 1974 by joyce meskis. between 1973 and 1983, it expanded seven different times, and in 1986 it moved into and consolidated at a new location in cherry creek, which remained open for over 20 years. a second branch, purchased in 1990, was renovated and opened for business in 1994 in denver's historic lodo (lower downtown) district. in 1995, the fourth story restaurant & bar opened at the cherry creek location. in november, 2004, tattered cover opened a third location in highlands ranch, colorado. the cherry creek location closed in june 2006, and moved to the newly renovated, long-defunct lowenstein theater on denver's colfax avenue. the fourth story restaurant was shut down at that time. the tattered cover is open 7 days a week at all branches, hosts prominent book signings, and is renowned for its customer service. its lodo store houses an events space which can seat over 250, while its highlands ranch store can seat up to 400 and its colfax store can seat around 100. together, the stores maintain an inventory of over half a million books. like many independent bookstores, the tattered cover is a member of the american booksellers association, and meskis served as president of that organization in the early 1990s. meskis is a former board member of the american booksellers foundation for free expression and is also the recipient of the william j. brennan, jr. award from the the thomas jefferson center for the protection of free expression, the pen/newman first amendment award, the brande
1971_establishments_in_the_United_States Companies_based_in_Denver,_Colorado Independent_bookstores_of_the_United_States Landmarks_in_Colorado Privately_held_companies_based_in_Colorado