New Townhomes Replace Old Adult Bookstore In Downtown Cheyenne

When you drive past the new Lotus Townhomes in downtown Cheyenne, the area may feel strangely familiar. Does the name Cupid ring a bell?

For decades, the block on West 17th Street was home to one of Cheyenne's most infamous businesses, Cupid's Adult Bookstore. Now, it's the site of a hip, new urban housing development on the city's West Edge.

When John Dineen purchased the historic building, it had been abandoned for several years. Last year, the City Council approved Dinnen's bid to tear down the existing structure and build an enclave of ten luxury townhomes targeted at young professionals. The first model home debuted earlier this month and several properties are now on the market, priced at $425,000.

"This is exactly what we have been so hungry for with fighting the blight, with taking care of properties on the west side,” Cheyenne Mayor Marian Orr told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle last year.

The 1, 840 square-foot, two-story townhomes feature 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms, a 2-car garage, balcony and entertainment area, updated kitchens, bathrooms, and appliances, and access to a shared courtyard. The communal space also includes a plaque commemorating the history of the site, which was once a boarding house and general store and served as the cultural center of Cheyenne's Japanese community in the early 1900s.