Milkshake Factory Planning Downtown Fort Collins Location in Former Elegant Pear Space

A dessert shop called Milkshake Factory is preparing to open in downtown Fort Collins at 150 N College Ave, according to a commercial building permit filed with the city.

The business will occupy 1,631 square feet in the Old Town location previously home to The Elegant Pear, a high-end home decor and design boutique. The permit indicates tenant improvements including new partitions and ceilings, a new restroom, and electrical and mechanical work within the existing building's shell space.

Garron Macklin filed the permit application. The general contractor for the project has not yet been designated.

The North College Avenue address sits in the heart of Old Town Fort Collins, a historic downtown district characterized by renovated 19th century storefronts and buildings repurposed for modern commercial use, according to Fort Collins historic preservation records.

The Elegant Pear operated at the location since 2015, offering custom furniture, lighting, artwork and home accessories. Owner and designer Cherilee Blubaugh ran the retail boutique for nearly a decade before the space became available for a new tenant.

The downtown corridor features a concentration of retail shops, restaurants, coffee houses and service businesses serving both local residents and visitors to Fort Collins' central business district.

No timeline for Milkshake Factory's opening has been disclosed in the permit documents. The permit remains in processing with the city's building department as of the filing date.