The year 1923 was a long time ago.

Some of the significant events of the year included Calvin Coolidge becoming the 30th president of the United States, Roy and Walt Disney founding The Walt Disney Company, The Moderation League of New York joining the effort to repeal prohibition, Lenin stepping down as the chairman of the Soviet government, and the Town of Dushanbe was established in the Emirate of Bukhara.

On the local front, Macky Auditorium opened its doors, as construction continued on the soon to be open Colorado Stadium, now Folsom Field and Chautauqua Colorado celebrated 25 years in Boulder.

Also, a European-style restaurant named Somer’s Sunken Gardens opened on the corner of 13th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Sometimes events are intended to be significant. The decision to build a world-class auditorium or a new sports stadium is a generational decision. When a small business opens, it is usually not expected to greatly inform the culture of the place in which it exists. Even the vision of Walt Disney could not likely imagine how starting his and his brother’s small business would transform the world.

As The Sink celebrates its century milestone, another set of brothers have had a chance to reflect on the cultural institution that they have been a part of for the relatively recent past 30 years.

“We were just twenty-something buying a bar with no plans and it turned into a life,” Mark Heinritz said about his brothers: Chris, James, and Cameron — who bought the business in 1992 from Herbie Kauvar.

“It’s been an incredible journey, and the icing is how special it is to everyone else.”

I spoke with Mark about The Sink’s legacy. Though he and his brother Chris, along with partner Tell Jones are the owners of the business, it’s clear that they approach their roles as stewards of an institution that is much bigger than them, that belongs to the community of students and locals who have, and continue to make millions of memories.

“It’s like we play an anonymous, but significant part of their lives,” Mark says of the people who have found their special place on the corner of 13th and Pennsylvania.

Boulder has many examples of small businesses that have become local institutions, many of which are also celebrating milestone anniversaries this year. In 1990, just a couple of years before the Heinritz brothers took the reins of The Sink, Boulder received a truly magnificent gift from our sister city from Tajikistan. The Dushanbe Teahouse opened eight years later. And today, under the stewardship of Lenny and Sara Martinelli, it is a local institution celebrating it’s 25th anniversary this year.

The achievements of longevity are worth celebrating, especially for businesses that do shape the fabric of the community. The Fitter, on The Hill turns 50 this year, Foolish Craig’s is 25 years old this week. Two Sole Sisters suddenly reaches an impressive 15 years, and Bohemian Biergarten has provided a welcome place for beer, pretzels and good friends for a solid decade.

In the last few years, I have watched a number of people take the big step to open new businesses in Boulder, a feet that is harder today than ever. Some of them are just celebrating their first or second anniversary this year. They may not have the memories that The Sink or Dushanbe have, yet, but we should celebrate them all. Every business that is an iconic institution today was first a dream and then a risk. The words that Herbie Kauvar told the brothers when he handed them the keys have echoed in Mark’s ears for the last 30 years: “ The hardest part is staying relevant.”

Thirty plus years later, Boulder has continued to grow up, and The Sink has continued to grow up with it.

Congratulations to all of the businesses celebrating anniversaries this year. Whether it is your first year or your first century.

Chip’s Tip: Now through June 18, the Museum of Boulder features “The story of the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse: 25 years of Global Friendship.” Later this year, the museum will host an exhibit chronicling the 100 years of the Sink.