If you’re ready to give your space an upgrade or spruce up your wardrobe, Denver sells what you need. While you might think of the Mile High City as more of an outdoors destination, the city contains several interesting shopping districts, featuring a wide range of options, from high-end boutiques to flea market finds.
Read on for our favorite Denver shopping spots.
Denver Shopping Tour
Denver Shopping Malls & Outlets
16th Street Mall
Neighborhood: LoDo
This 1.7-mile stretch is perfect for shopping while getting your steps in. With more than 300 stores, restaurants, and bars to choose from, you can make a day of shopping in downtown Denver and grab a bite to eat in between stores. Visit Tattered Cover Book Store for fresh reading material, Banana Republic to upgrade your wardrobe, Rocket Fizz Soda Pop & Candy Shop to energize your shopping frenzy, and Wines Off Wynkoop for supplies to help you wind down when you return home. Worried about too much walking? The 16th Street Mall provides a free shuttle bus that can take you from one end of the mall to the other in a pinch.
Cherry Creek Shopping Center
Neighborhood: Cherry Creek
Looking for some high-end goods? Cherry Creek Shopping Center contains more than 40 upscale stores, including Tiffany and Co., Burberry, Tory Burch, Neiman Marcus, and more. Anchored by Macy’s and Nordstrom, this exclusive shopping destination offers an ideal mix of luxury goods and everyday wares. Beyond shopping, the center boasts a movie theater, fine dining restaurants, and a seasonal farmer’s market that sets up shop (no pun intended) once a week.
Park Meadows
Neighborhood: Lone Tree
Just 5 miles from downtown Denver, Park Meadows, known as Colorado’s only “retail resort,” delivers a selection of shopping mall stores that lean toward higher-end brands – Anthropologie, Apple, Coach, Crate & Barrel, Sephora, William’s-Sonoma. Lush timber accents, natural lighting, and relaxing water features make this mall feel like a getaway experience. With more than 185 retail stores, restaurants, and shops, you’re practically guaranteed to find exactly what you need – and some things you don’t – during an outing at Park Meadows.
Denver Bargain Shopping
Denver Premium Outlets
Neighborhood: Thornton
Who doesn’t love a bargain? Just 20 minutes from Denver, the LEED-certified Denver Premium Outlets used recycled and locally sourced materials to create hundreds of retail spaces. Shop discounted brands that reflect Colorado’s mountain lifestyle, like Columbia and Merrell, as well as a range of other options, such as Nike, Cole Haan, Michael Kors, and more. This shopping center also includes a massive play area outside along with water features and plenty of seating so that you can rest your feet throughout the day.
Mile High Flea Market
Neighborhood: Henderson
Just outside of Denver, in Henderson, awaits the Mile High Flea Market, one of the largest outdoor flea markets in the region. Find a wide variety of goods at bargain prices, including clothing, electronics, antiques, and much more. Thousands of vendors offer new and used items, giving you every opportunity to find what you’re looking for – and, certainly, a few things you didn’t know you needed. In addition to shopping, this expansive flea market provides kids’ rides, food vendors, a farmers market, and a cantina with televisions tuned in to sports. It’s built to be an all-day event, so plan to stay for a while!
Arc Thrift Stores
Neighborhood: City-wide
Arc Thrift Stores has multiple locations throughout the Denver metro area and offers a wide selection of secondhand clothing, furniture, and household items at affordable prices. Shopping at thrift stores like Arc is a great way to find unique items and score bargains, while also supporting a good cause since proceeds often go towards community programs and services.
Shopping Denver’s Small Businesses
South Broadway
Neighborhood: Baker
South Broadway is a major transportation corridor that runs through the Baker neighborhood, one of the trendiest places for shopping and eating in the city. You won’t find many major labels or big box stores here. This Denver shopping district puts local flair on display, with dozens of vintage clothing shops, antiques, galleries, bookstores, and more. Take a stroll down the seven-block-long Antique Row for local shops (some of which have been in business for over 30 years!), such as the Printed Page Bookshop, the Antique Exchange Co-op, or The Oddemporium. Whether you want to add a touch of mid-century charm to your new place, grow your record collection, or add a few used books to your bookshelf, Antique Row will supply what you need. South Broadway also features some of Denver’s best artists and creatives, so come ready to support local businesses.
Larimer Square
Neighborhood: Downtown
At the heart of Denver’s historic district sits Larimer Square, a one-block destination by the 16th Street Mall dotted with charming heritage buildings that house independent boutiques and bookstores. Among these independent gems, you’ll find vintage clothing, handmade gifts, jewelry, and other locally-made items. Pamper your pet at Dog Savvy, travel back in time at Garage Sale Vintage, and update your look at Milly Rose Designs. Stick around after shopping for a lively drink and dining scene, complete with wine bars, high-end restaurants, and entertainment venues.
Union Station
Neighborhood: Downtown
Yes, Union Station is a hotbed for tourist activity, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find great local goods in this historic train station’s indoor market. Unique independent shops sell handmade jewelry, housewares, books, and flowers. Drop by to find a one-of-a-kind gift for a friend at Tattered Cover Book Store, grab a housewarming present from 5 Green Boxes, or treat yourself at Milkbox Ice Creamery. While in the area, don’t miss your chance to take in downtown’s interesting nightlife.
Shopping for Your New Home
Modern Nomad
Neighborhood: Golden Triangle
This small, woman-owned business holds a treasure trove of incredible home goods, shelving a rotating collection of beautiful products from all over the world. After moving locations to a large 1920s building in Golden Triangle, Modern Nomad made space for two locally-owned businesses –Two Kisses Jewelry and Relic Vintage. In addition to serving the community as a beautiful source for home goods, Modern Nomad has a full kitchen on site for hosting dinners and other special events that combine their unique stock of home goods with cuisine from around the world.
Design Wright Studios
Neighborhood: RiNo
Design Wright Studios caters to clients with a champagne taste. In fact, they even serve draft beer, wine, and champagne to customers on the hunt for a perfect designer chair or an heirloom-quality console. Stop by the showroom for the inspiration you need to turn your new place into a designer space fit for a magazine spread.
Grocery Shopping
Denver Central Market
Neighborhood: Downtown
Of course, Denver has plenty of grocery store chains, but when you want a gourmet ingredient or fresh produce, a stop at downtown’s Central Market is worth the trip. Between the artisan fish market, butcher, chocolate shop, and local, in-season fruits and vegetables, you can buy the necessary items to cook a five-star meal in the comfort of your own home.
Cherry Creek Fresh Market
Neighborhood: Cherry Creek
From May through October, you can get your hands on the freshest local produce in town at the Cherry Creek Fresh Market. This popular open-air market occupies the Cherry Creek Shopping Center on Wednesdays and Saturdays during the season. They also host live entertainment and food trucks, so you can make a whole event out of your weekly grocery shopping.
Getting hungry after all that shopping? Pick up some Denver Takeout on your way home.
Live and Shop in Denver
We hope you enjoyed our Denver shopping tour, but there’s even more to the city’s shopping scene than we can include in one article. Thinking of moving to the Mile High City? Contact us at AptAmigo, and our apartment experts can walk you through the entire process. From scoping out neighborhoods to finding the best apartment for your money, we’re here to help.
