The shifting sands of change are blowing on Cherry Creek North, with more merchants leaving the lauded shopping district than coming in.
Recent departures include Filson, DS Additions, Cafe Colorado, Salon Posh, Chez Jose (which will be replaced by Brandon’s Pub), Pine Cones, Belly, Origins and El Salon. Soon to be gone is Samantha Castilla shoes, which is holding a liquidation sale.
While some merchants are leaving Cherry Creek North in search of amenities such as lower rent and free parking, others are staying steadfast, and at least one store owner, Aaron LaPedis, recently expanded.
“If you look at 2009, the number of openings and closings fairly balanced out,” said Julie Bender, president of the Cherry Creek North Business Improvement District. “We had 31 openings and 35 closings, which is pretty stable in such a difficult economy.”
Bender says so far this year, there have been more store closings than openings, but she’s hoping those numbers even out over the course of the year.
“There are always changes to the retail environment,” she said. “In 2008, we had a banner year with twice as many openings as closings; 2007 was even.”
Lisa Holste was one of the most recent defectors from Cherry Creek North. She went to Bonnie Brae, where her Posh salon customers can park for free without risking a parking ticket. Holste and her partners ran Salon Posh at 300 Fillmore St. for seven years before moving last week to 2703 E. Louisiana Ave.
“In Cherry Creek, our clients were angry because they had to pay to park,” Holste said, referring to the parking kiosks that will soon be replaced by Smart Meters posted at each parking space. “The parking affected our business. All I heard were complaints.”
LaPedis, owner of Fascination St. Gallery, put $100,000 into renovating a space he owns at 2727 E. Third Ave. to create Gallery of Legends and Dreams. He has been a merchant and landlord in Cherry Creek North for 20 years.
“Cherry Creek is never going away,” he said. “It is going to be a landmark that other places around Denver are going to strive to be like.”
LaPedis contends that the posh shopping area goes through 10-year cycles of ups and downs. “It’s like the culling of the herd. Old businesses drop out and new ones come in.”
One business considering making the move out of the district is Simply Moore, the makeup studio at 3000 E. Third Ave. owned by Michael Moore. His building is slated to be torn down.
“We’re really rethinking the idea of Cherry Creek,” he said. “The (rent) prices are not coming down to accommodate the lower amount of business. I feel at times that Cherry Creek North isn’t doing enough to bring business back to the area.”
Moore has a bid on another space in Cherry Creek, but if the landlord won’t budge on the rent, he’ll consider moving out of the area.
Get naked.
NUDE Vodka, former Broncos great John Elway’s newest venture, is launching in Colorado with a chance for consumers to win “An Evening With Elway.”
Elway, an investor on the company’s advisory board, will spend time with seven NUDE buyers selected in a drawing.
Each neck label will be numbered, and consumers need to keep their bottles to match the winning numbers that will be drawn April 30. Go to elway to register the bottle and enter the drawing.
Freebie.
To celebrate the launch of the new Jackpot game MatchPlay, the Colorado Lottery is sponsoring free parking Monday in downtown Denver.
The Lottery has rented 72 meters stretching from Market to Curtis streets between 16th and 17th streets. Parking will be free for two hours between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.
MatchPlay launched today with a $100,000 jackpot that grows by $10,000 until someone hits it.
Eavesdropping
on a son to his dad: “Dad, is it OK to burp in front of girls?”
“Only after you’re married.”
Penny Parker’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Listen to her on the Caplis and Silverman radio show between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-AM (630). Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.
