Avogadro’s Number embraces location history and accentuates Fort Collins’ culture

Aug. 1, 2024

Photo provided by Avogadro’s Number

Due to its location, Avogadro’s Number, an over 50-year-old restaurant, started making its impact on Fort Collins’ culture and community decades before it was established.

According to Sage Burnham, a longtime employee who works multiple positions at Avogadro’s Number, part of the restaurant is located in an almost century-old building; it served a range of purposes before becoming Avogadro’s Number.

Burnham said that what is now the restaurant’s bar was built in 1929 and started as a bakery.

“It was called Home Bakery, and then over the years, as different owners have bought it, they built what is now the stage room addition to it in 1952, and it was Home Bakery for, like, 46 years,” Burnham said.

Burnham noted that Fort Collins residents come into the restaurant frequently with new stories about what the bar used to be. She added that the building was said to be both an auto shop and the Fort Collins Employment Office at some point.

“I couldn't find specifically what the building was between when it was a bakery and when we bought it because it was only like 20 or so years, and I think it was a handful of different things. But, I've had different customers come in and tell me it was a karate place, like it was all kinds of these different random sort of businesses. Now, it's all one,” Burnham said.

Avogadro’s Number was established in 1971, and Burnham said it had five owners before Rob Osborne, the restaurant’s current owner, bought it in 1980.

“He's been the sole owner ever since, and he's the one who essentially bought the other two buildings, turned it into one giant building. He bought the house behind and turned the backyard of the house into the Avo’s patio. So, he's definitely the one who's turned it into the Avo’s it is today,” Burnham said.

Today, Avogadro’s Number offers all-day dining, support for Fort Collins’ arts and culture and community events.

Burnham said that in addition to participating in First Friday art walks, Avogadro’s Number displays a new local artist’s work in the bar every month.

“It's sort of up to the artists to kind of come to us and see if they want to be featured, and they can sell stuff. If they sell any paintings out of the bar, I think we take a small commission from it, but they get, you know, obviously most of it. So, it's a cool way for them to be able to showcase and have an art show in town,” she said.

The restaurant is also what Burnham described as a “stepping stone” for local musicians due to its live events. The restaurant hosts everything from genre-spanning musical performances every weekend to community fundraisers and local debates.

This month, Colony Funk will be at Avogadro’s Number on Aug. 23 from 8-10 pm, and Matt Skinner Band will perform on Aug. 25 from 6-9 pm. Tickets for each event are $15 and can be purchased through links on the Avogadro’s Number event calendar.

Anyone interested in learning more about these and other events can find more information via the restaurant’s event calendar and Instagram page. Information on the restaurant’s menu, hours and location can be found on their website.