Holiday Shopping Shines On These Gift Gathering Streets, Neighborhoods

If Santa Were An Urbanite This Is Where He’d Shop

For most of us, holiday shopping translates into snaking checkout lines, crowded clothing racks, scented candles and parking hassles. Not this year! We’ve found 10 of the best gift-gathering neighborhoods, streets and alleys in the Valley that make shopping a stress-free stroll down the street.

Bonnie Brae

With a flavor of its 1920s heritage, the Bonnie Brae shopping district features delightful retail shops along South University Blvd., many run by the same family for generations. It’s a nice change from the chain stores going in down the road in Cherry Creek. Adding to the neighborhood’s shopping charm the street has welcomed several new boutiques. The latest is Wish, a gift shop in the former Bank of the West space that’s bigger and delightfully decorated with easy parking. Another neighborhood favorite is Pink, offering cutting edge LA fashion for a casual Colorado lifestyle at affordable prices.

Broadway

Cruising South Broadway is one of the most stimulating ways to shop in the Valley. Along this 16-block strip — south of I-25 and north of DU at Evans — you’ll discover hundreds of eccentric stores, and one of the biggest areas in Colorado for antiques. Independent, quirky, vintage and trendy shops are sprouting up here each year. Antique Row — some 50 stores that line the 400-2000 blocks — sell everything imaginable including furnishings, collectibles, clothing and jewelry. Denver’s most magical toy store The Wizard’s Chest is expected to open this month at 451 Broadway albeit the Cherry Creek North store will remain open through the holidays. On North Broadway, make Paulino Gardens your holiday headquarters featuring unique holiday décor, poinsettias, evergreen wreaths, garland and boughs.

Cherry Creek

Once boasting boutiques and galleries, Cherry Creek North now offers 16 blocks with more construction cranes than shopping contentment. The Cherry Creek Shopping Center’s new section, however, is creating holiday excitement. The mall’s transformation has been worth the wait, featuring RH Denver, the region’s first four-level Restoration Hardware store. Newly opened luxury brand stores include Tory Burch, David Yardman and NightRider Jewelry. Several stores including Free People are relocating into the redeveloped space. It will be the second largest store of its kind in the country. Do consider shopping Cherry Creek North’s tree-lined streets at tranquil Ten Thousand Villages, Robert Anderson Gallery and Oster Jewelers. The stretch along 3rd Ave. is still the Holy Grail for women’s designer clothing with shops such as Adornments, Mariel and Harriet’s.

Colorado Boulevard

Discover well-kept shopping secrets by driving along South Colorado Boulevard’s inconspicuous strip malls. Tucked along this strip is Dardano’s shoe store located at 1550 S. Colorado Blvd. Having tripled in size in the last year, it offers the largest and finest selections of footwear for men and women in the Valley. Socks, gloves, wallets, totes, plus travel and laptop bags make great gift and stocking stuffers. Other stores along here with great gift ideas include Guiry’s, Nordstrom Rack and Michaels.

Downtown Streets

Downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods offer an abundance of retail experiences. For dedicated shoppers the sprawling 16th Street Mall is a cornucopia of shopping options, including Denver Pavilions (500 16th St.) expansive brand name stores and quaint gift shops. Top of the list for a trip downtown is William Crow Jewelers in the University Building (910 16th St. #320). With more than 90 years of continuous operation, it carries a large selection of loose diamonds, gemstones, gold jewelry pearls and watches. If you’re in the mood for a weekend-long spending spree add Molly’s of Denver and Rosey’s in the Pavilions to your shopping list.

Glendale

This Arapahoe County enclave surrounded by the City and County of Denver is a shopping extravaganza featuring major retailers such as Super Target, Sports Authority and PetSmart. Located less than one mile from the Cherry Creek Shopping District, Glendale also has several strip malls with popular shops. Moreover, Glendale was named the seventh cheapest overall small city for millennials in the U.S. by Digital Brands, Inc. The Bookies located off Colorado Blvd. and Mississippi is a fairy tale place with gifts for all ages. Price conscious shoppers can also veer into World Market for furniture, home décor and unique gifts.

Golden Triangle

This quirky, artsy, eclectic neighborhood is in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Speer Blvd., Colfax Ave. and Lincoln St. and home to eight of Denver’s museums, including the Denver Art Museum. With more than 50 galleries, fine-art studios and specialty stores, the neighborhood is a great place to find art and unusual gifts. Fend off a shopping slump in the Denver Art Museum Stores offering art-inspired fashions, jewelry and accessories.

Havana Street

Check out the 4.3-mile stretch of Havana Street that goes from Dartmouth to 6th Ave. in Aurora. You will discover many specialty shops plus the Gardens on Havana, a thriving new shopping area located at the old Buckingham Mall site on Mississippi and Havana. Havana Street is also the place to go for all things automotive, with 25 dealerships as well as auto parts stores and service centers.

Larimer Square

Larimer Square was America’s first revitalization of a historic neighborhood, opening in 1969. Complete with glittering lights strung over the entire block, it is at once charming and elegant. The 18 shops and boutiques carry more than 200 fashion lines. Two of those fashionable shops are contemporary furniture store Element and Moda selling styled attire for men.

 

 

Old South Gaylord

One of Denver’s oldest shopping districts, the awning-covered storefronts here capture the feeling of a time when life was simpler. There are 60 shops and eateries to tempt your taste buds and sense of style in turn-of-the-century houses that have been converted into shops selling contemporary fashions, sporting goods, bicycles, and art. If “Fashionista” is your middle name shop Barbara & Company and W for feminine clothing. Other all the rage stores include The Tended Thicket, Hanna by Design and Arts at Denver.