A cherished French bakery in Jefferson County, Colorado, is facing potential closure because of the county’s harsh enforcement of exclusionary zoning regulations. This situation underscores how overly restrictive regulations create unnecessary hurdles that stifle entrepreneurship, especially when the local economy is struggling.
Lookout Mountain, Colorado, is celebrated for its breathtaking views, luxurious homes, and as the final resting place of Buffalo Bill. Just 12 miles from downtown Denver, it has become a must-visit destination for hikers, mountain bikers, and tourists from all over the globe.
This charming mountain community has long grappled with one significant drawback: the lack of a quality café. For many years, residents and visitors have had to travel to the nearby city of Golden for a decent cup of coffee or tasty pastries. So both locals and tourists were thrilled when a French bakery, Et Voilà!, opened less than half a mile from Buffalo Bill’s Museum and Grave.
Et Voilà! — meaning “Here you go” in French — is run by a passionate trio of French immigrants: husband-and-wife team Eric and Rachel Dufour, along with Rachel’s sister, Ruth. After leaving a successful career as an economist, Ruth pursued her passion for baking at renowned chef Olivier Bajard’s pastry school. The Dufours want to share their love for authentic French cuisine with the Lookout Mountain community, creating a welcoming space for locals and visitors. They also count on the bakery’s financial success to support their nonprofit, Serving Alongside Ministry (SAM), which provides counseling services for Christian organizations and leaders globally.
To turn their dream into reality, the Dufours sold their home and put the proceeds into starting a bakery business. They rent an old storage building on Lookout Mountain Road and spent almost a year transforming it into a clean and inviting space.
With American and French flags at the entrance, the bakery feels like a community hub. One side features cozy café seating, while the other has a long picnic table for gatherings. The walls showcase vibrant posters of famous Paris landmarks, and shelves with board games invite customers to relax and connect.
Like many immigrant entrepreneurs, the Dufours work tirelessly. Their bakery is open six days a week, with Ruth starting her baking at 1 a.m. every day. Eric and Rachel typically work on their nonprofit from 4 to 6 a.m. before joining Ruth to prepare for the bakery’s 7 a.m. opening.
The Dufours recognized from the beginning that living within walking distance of the bakery is crucial for the success of their business adventure. Winters in Lookout Mountain are long and harsh, and frequent snowstorms can easily dump several feet of snow and block the road. Operating their business during these long winters would be nearly impossible if they lived further away.
The Dufours found a strategic temporary solution, ordering two custom-made trailer coaches from Canada and placing them behind their bakery shop. These trailer coaches serve as their living space, home office, and Ruth’s test kitchen. The solar panels attached to the trailer coaches even became the emergency energy source to keep the bakery running during a recent power outage. Always respectful of the surroundings, the Dufours ensured the trailer coaches’ exterior and design matched the bakery’s, while tastefully blending in with the natural environment.
The Dufours plan to live in the trailers for the first two years while saving to buy a home nearby. While the plan is ambitious — given that the median house price in the neighborhood is around $1.4 million — the Dufours are driven by the promise of the American dream. Importantly, they communicated their plan to their realtors and landlord before signing the lease and received unanimous support.
Unfortunately, an anonymous zoning complaint in September last year claimed that the area where the Dufours’ trailers are located is not zoned for residential use. As a result, Jefferson County’s zoning inspectors have ordered the Dufours to remove the trailer coaches.
The Dufours informed county officials that removing their trailer coaches would end the bakery, as they cannot afford an alternative living arrangement. Determined to prevent this, they have spent nearly a year trying to negotiate with the zoning division, emphasizing that complying with it would impose undue hardship on their business.
Meanwhile, since its opening in April, Et Voilà! has received rave reviews for its delicious food, excellent service, and welcoming atmosphere, with many customers calling it a “happy place” and community gem. Remarkably, the bakery broke even in its first month — a clear testament to the Dufours’ vision and hard work.
Along with their lawyer, the Dufours filed multiple requests for exemptions from the zoning ordinance, arguing that compliance would impose undue hardship on their business. Unfortunately, JeffCo’s planning department denied all requests, stating that even temporary residency in commercial areas is not allowed.
In response, the Dufours started a petition on Change.org, which quickly gathered about 2,400 signatures from locals and visitors. Supporters praised the bakery and questioned the county’s strict zoning enforcement, particularly as it threatens a beloved local business. One commentator summarized the community’s frustration, saying, “Reg[ulation]s like this are why we can’t have nice things.”
Et Voilà’s zoning dispute with Jefferson County’s planning and zoning department highlights the declining business climate in Colorado. CNBC’s 2024 study of top states for business rated Colorado with a “D+” for the cost of doing business, a “C-” for business friendliness, and an “F” for cost of living. Furthermore, Colorado ranks as the sixth-most-regulated state in the U.S., and excessive regulations contributed to the worsening business climate in the state. A 2024 Regulation Impact Analysis Report estimated that every 10 percent increase in regulation results in the loss of 36,000 jobs and 9,000 businesses.
Jefferson County is already grappling with severe financial challenges, facing up to “$30 million in cuts from the General Fund” this year. To address this crisis, the county urgently needs more businesses like Et Voilà! to contribute taxes that fund vital county services and draw tourists to our region. The exclusionary zoning regulations have already exacerbated a severe shortage of affordable housing and driven up the cost of doing business in the county. Is it truly in the county’s best interest to destroy a thriving business and a cherished community hub simply to enforce its zoning ordinance?
