INSIDE
D
owntown Denver and its
city center neighborhoods
are home to nearly 80,000
residents, a number that
has increased by 16,000
since 2010. Denver is one of the
fastest-growing cities in the country,
and Denver’s center city is expected
to add close to 10,000 additional
residents by 2022. This residential
renaissance, when combined with a
rapidly growing workforce of more
than 130,000 strong, has encour-
aged significant retail development,
including first-to-market and new-to-
downtown options,
which is especially
visible along the
16th Street Mall.
As one of Den-
ver’s most powerful
economic engines,
the mall gener-
ates more than 30
percent of the total
sales tax collected
in downtown.
Retail is a power-
ful component of
several strategies to
help steward the successful future of
downtown’s most heavily trafficked
corridor as one that is safe, welcom-
ing and inclusive.
The Downtown Denver Partner-
ship and the city and county of
Denver, alongside mall property
owners, are executing a retail strat-
egy for downtown’s “main street”
that includes recruiting high-quality
amenities, especially high-impact
retail concepts that are attractive
to residents, visitors and employ-
ees alike. The vision, outlined in
the 2007 Downtown Area Plan, is
to support downtown’s overall eco-
nomic vitality through diverse retail
uses as part of a place-based eco-
nomic development strategy that
has seen significant momentum of
late.
Several recent retail arrivals signal
the strength of the market, includ-
ing the October 2016 opening of
international retailer Uniqlo. The
brand’s 30,000-square-foot flagship
store features a vibrant mall façade
and anchors Denver Pavilions. In
The city of Thornton is embracing new retailers that meet these industry trends. Retail’s evolution PAGE 12 The city is cultivating a booming retail district built on years of solid foundation. Olde Town Arvada PAGE 22 Larkburger shares it site-selection process for determining new restaurant locations. Leasing insights PAGE 18 Please see Page 24 May 2017Denver Pavilions
The 16th Street Mall generates more than 30 percent of the total sales tax collected in downtown Denver and continues to announce first-to-market and new-to-downtown retailers.
Emily Brett
Economic
development
manager,
Downtown Denver
Partnership, Denver