Close Menu
  • For Buyers
    • Retail News
    • Products & Suppliers
    • Ecommerce
    • Marketing & Management
    • Trade Show News
  • For Suppliers
    • Supplier News
    • Marketing & Management
    • Importing
    • Manufacturers
    • Warehousing
    • Finance
    • Show Exhibiting
  • Wholesale 101
  • Trade Show Calendar
  • Wholesale Products
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Friday, May 9
  • Subscribe
  • Submit Content
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
  • Advertise
    • Display Advertising
    • Email Marketing Campaigns
    • Newsletter Advertising
    • Sponsored Content
    • Lead Generation Services
  • Top Product Sources
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
WholesaleCentral.com Blog
  • For Buyers
    • Retail News
    • Products & Suppliers
    • Ecommerce
    • Marketing & Management
    • Trade Show News
  • For Suppliers
    • Supplier News
    • Marketing & Management
    • Importing
    • Manufacturers
    • Warehousing
    • Finance
    • Show Exhibiting
  • Wholesale 101
  • Trade Show Calendar
  • Wholesale Products
WholesaleCentral.com Blog
Home»Retailer Spotlights»The Future of Malls: A Visit to Stanley Marketplace
Retailer Spotlights

The Future of Malls: A Visit to Stanley Marketplace

PublisherBy PublisherAugust 21, 2018Updated:January 20, 20234 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Email
Share
Facebook Twitter Email

Stanley MarketplacePulling off Peoria St. in downtown Aurora, we drove down a dusty road wondering where the GPS could possibly be taking us. Not long after, the word “Stanley” in bold letters reminiscent of a 1950’s diner sign was straight ahead.

We made it. But where exactly were we? To be honest, I found Stanley Marketplace for the brewery but stayed for the retail.

Stanley Marketplace is an indie oasis outside of Denver, Colorado. Located in an old aerospace building, Stanley is an airy warehouse hangout home to over 50 local businesses. When I visited Stanley on a Monday afternoon, families, friends, and even their dogs were gathered in the marketplace eating, drinking, shopping, working, and playing.

While Stanley Marketplace may meet the technical definition of a “mall” it feels wrong to use that term. Take the general concept of a mall, flip it upside down, shake everything out, and start from scratch. Then you might end up with something like Stanley. Stanley Marketplace

Bryant, Chief Storyteller at Stanley told us, “Our team was looking for a small place to open a friendly neighborhood beer hall when we found the Stanley Aviation building in northwest Aurora. It’s much too big for just a beer hall, so we expanded our plan and set out to build a community hub that celebrates Colorado businesses. We were inspired by the history of this building and knew the surrounding neighborhoods wanted great local businesses nearby. We wrote a document called the Stanifesto and used that to build a community of business owners. It’s been quite the journey!”

Today’s shoppers are looking for quality food, retail, and entertainment as much as any other generation of shoppers. But today there is a greater demand for local goods and independent businesses. At Stanley, shoppers can find fresh beer at Cheluna Brewing Co, nationally renowned pampering at Clementine’s Salon, curated clothes from Steele Angel, baby and mom-to-be gifts from Little Wolf, unique artist tidbits at Trunk Nouveau, and much more including a zero-waste market and a maker space equipped with 3D printers. Bakeries, bars, barbershops, boutique exercise studios and more, Stanley has something for everyone. As the Stanifesto says, “This is no ordinary marketplace…we believe in doing things differently.”

Bryant says, “We are 100 percent local Colorado businesses that believe in doing things a little differently, with way more than the bottom line in mind.” During my visit to Stanley, I certainly found things to be a little different from traditional shopping experiences. On top of the one-of-a-kind businesses and products, the building is dog-friendly. Shoppers can take beer or wine to go and browse stores while sipping. All the spaces are open and airy.

Bryant continues, “We’ve got a great mix of businesses and we host all kinds of events here, which means coming to Stanley is an experience every time. You can come here to shop, to eat, to work or to work out, to hear live music or see a play or get a haircut. We are very involved in the neighborhoods around us and in the greater Aurora and Denver metro areas, and we work with a bunch of local nonprofits to make sure we’re always giving back.”

Stanley first opened in December 2016 and has added new businesses throughout all of 2017 and even into this year. The newest addition is a large events venue called The Hangar. They also have a five-acre field. “We recently hosted a taco festival and a food truck festival. Having those spaces enables us to host all kinds of events, so we’ll continue to do that in the years ahead,” says Bryant. “Our Stanley Arts Festival is September 7 – 9 and we’ll celebrate Small Business Saturday in a huge way on November 24. We’re always working on new partnerships over here.”

In many ways, Stanley Marketplace is a perfect reflection of what today’s mall should be: a community gathering place where people from all over can play, relax, create, and enjoy. Not necessarily just a place to buy things though that certainly happens along the way.

August 2018 Issue brick and mortar buy local small business
Share. Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleIndependent Retailer Launches Expanded Ecommerce Content
Next Article New Floor Features, Networking Events in Store for 2018 Las Vegas Souvenir & Resort Gift Show

Related Posts

Online Marketing Calendar for 2025: Don’t Miss These Critical Dates

December 17, 2024

How to Create a Google Business Profile

January 18, 2023

A Guide to Selling Wholesale Products on Amazon

December 9, 2022
Sign Up for Buyer Updates
WholesaleCentral.com

Join the Buyer's Network

Get news & updates only for retailers.

how-to
Wholesale 101 for Buyers

Amazon Return Pallets For Sale: How to Profit

11 Mins ReadUpdated:August 9, 2024

A big trend among some online sellers is buying Amazon return pallets and overstock and…

Retail News

5 Essential Tax Season Preparation Tips

10 Mins ReadUpdated:August 8, 2024

Are you ready for tax season? April 18 is approaching quickly, and many day-to-day decisions…

Ecommerce

7 Steps to Create Successful Shipping for Your Business

6 Mins ReadUpdated:August 8, 2024

by Sidney Karanja Today’s business environment is more globalized and complex than ever before. In…

Product News

Overstock Liquidations

6 Mins ReadUpdated:August 9, 2024

Overstock inventory refers to the excess goods or merchandise that a retailer has on hand…

Latest Posts

Crafting a Marketing Strategy for Electronics Retailers

January 21, 2025

Effective Digital Marketing Strategies for Health & Wellness Brands

January 21, 2025

Mastering Beauty Ads: 10 Strategies for Engaging Your Audience | Blog.Wholesalecentrl.com 

January 21, 2025

Jewelry Marketing Strategies: How to Attract Customers and Boost Sales in a Competitive Market

December 31, 2024

How to Open a Gift Shop: A Step-By-Step Guide

December 23, 2024

Online Marketing Calendar for 2025: Don’t Miss These Critical Dates

December 17, 2024
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Find Wholesale Sources
WholesaleCentral.com

Join the Buyer's Network

Get news & updates only for retailers.

Follow Us:

Copyright © 2025. Sumner Communications, Inc..

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.