Cherry Creek Shopping Center

Known by its abbreviated name, The Cherry Creek Center, is three and a half miles southeast of downtown Denver in the Cherry Creek Neighborhood. Originally the shopping center opened its doors in 1953, during the postwar era, and renovated in 1990. Today it’s anchored around three well-known department stores, Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, and Nordstrom. Several luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Hermes, and Tiffany & Co are present there. Renovation Hardware, known as The Gallery at Cherry Creek, is another cornerstone boutique shopping center. This hardware store, which is an innovative retail concept, encompasses 70,000 square feet of artistic installations of home furnishing in a gallery setting. The Cherry Creek Mall is complete with an eight-screen movie theater operated by AMC and many dining choices. Plus, it serves as a venue for an ongoing list of events ranging from shopping extravaganzas, dining specials, music, art, and more. Cherry Creek Center is Denver’s Mall of America, a place where today’s shopping trends blend with cultural experiences. All are located in well-designed landscaped, combining open-air style malls, big retail stores, and galleries. 

Shopping at Cherry Creek Center

If perusing high-end apparel is your affection, then you should make it a point to spend a day or two at Cherry Creek. There’s nothing better than trying on the latest trends in apparel the old-fashioned way. Cherry Creek allows you to feel the fabrics, look at the quality of garments and accessories, and meet with the store’s brand salespeople. Be able to shop, as all the popular high-end stores are right there next to one another.

The Gallery at Cherry Creek (Renovation Hardware RH) has added to Cherry Creek’s reputation as the place to go when renovating your home or updating an interior design. If you need ideas, plan on spending at least an afternoon at RH. Shopping at The Gallery is decor delivered in the most modern environment, from settings to purchasing experience.

Experience The Mall

After shopping, there are many other things to do. Go to a movie, walk around the beautiful park-like area outside, and listen to live music. There are numerous restaurants in the mall, and they range from ultra-fancy formal to sidewalk style with outside seating. American, Chinese, Italian, Fusion, and Mexican are some of the most popular eateries at the mall, but there are also some more exotic places. While at Cherry Creek Center, complete your acquaintance with a visit to Cherry Creek North.

Cherry Creek North

Cherry Creek North references a neighborhood just north of the Cherry Creek Shopping Center. It is a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly place known for its high-end shopping, dining, and entertainment options. Cherry Creek North features over 600 businesses, including boutique shops, art galleries, salons and spas, restaurants, and bars.

In addition to its commercial offerings, Cherry Creek North also features a mix of residential properties, including single-family homes, townhomes, and luxury apartments. The neighborhood is known for its tree-lined streets, parks, and public art installations, as well as its community events and festivals.

Cherry Creek North is a popular destination for locals and tourists, offering a unique blend of urban sophistication and small-town charm.

Cherry Creek Popular Attractions

Cherry Creek Arts Festival

The Cherry Creek Arts Festival is an annual event in  Cherry Creek North. The festival celebrates art, music, and culture with various activities for people of all ages.

The festival typically takes place over the Fourth of July weekend and features over 250 juried artists from around the country. These artists showcase a variety of mediums, including painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media. In addition to the art exhibits, the festival includes live music performances, dance performances, and interactive art activities for children and adults. Another big attraction during the Arts Festival is Culinary Avenue, where visitors can sample food and beverages from some of Denver’s top restaurants and breweries. This is an excellent opportunity to enjoy the arts and culture of Denver.

Cherry Creek Fresh Market

There is a weekly open-air Fresh Market through the summer and fall seasons. Local farmers bring in fresh fruits and vegetables from all over Colorado. Sample some of Colorado’s delicious produce, from Olathe corn to Palisade peaches to Rocky Ford melons. Colorado’s produce is some of the finest in the West.

Public Transportation to Cherry Creek Center:

• Bus: Take bus route 83L or 83D and get off at the Cherry Creek Shopping Center stop.
• Light rail: Take the E or F line to the University of Denver station and then transfer to bus route 83L or 83D to get to the mall.

Other Attractions near Cherry Creek Center

• The Denver Country Club – Golf, Tennis, Swimming Pools, Ice Skating, – Polo, and Horse Shows (Sedalia, CO).
• Cherry Creek Park – a creekside greenspace with walking and bike paths, some tree cover, dogs allowed.
• Gates Tennis Center – a public tennis facility with 20 courts, leagues, pro shop.
• Denver Botanic Gardens – 1.7 miles north Cherry Creek Center.
• Washington Park – 2.7 miles southwest of Cherry Creek Center. A very nice park with sport facilities, flower gardens, winding trails for biking and jogging. A boathouse overlooking Smith Lake.

History of Cherry Creek

Like most other places in the area, the mall has an interesting history. The area referred to as Cherry Creek Center is an early example of a mined land reclamation. In the 1920s, the land was nothing but a weed-filled, neglected parcel until a man named Temple Buell bought it. He utilized the mostly sandy soil as a mine pit, as sand was in demand when many buildings and roads were being built. After the sand was mined out, the remaining pit was used as a “sanitary” landfill. Over time, the trash, having been compacted by the various trucks, trailers, and bulldozers driving on it, was suitable to be covered with fill dirt and graded into a large, flat area. In the 1930s, the site was known as The Grove and was used as a picnicking area and hosted tent revivals by various traveling preachers. More on this subject can be found at The Denver Public Library, which is a treasure trove of information about the year-by-year history of development in the area.

Besides being the third-largest mall in the country at the time, its designers incorporated some very novel ideas. Primarily the “container store.” The concept of one very large building containing many stores within its own walls. This novel idea is still a design concept in wide usage today. 

by Kathleen Fitzsimmons