Robert Golden is amazed at the activity near the Whole Foods store at the Streets of Southglenn shopping district.
“There was a lot of activity over here from a retail standpoint, and I think things are picking up,” said Golden, who is CEO and president of the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce, which is headquartered at the shopping center. “I think much like what the South Metro economy is doing, Southglenn is receiving the benefit of that, and there’s more people shopping and dining and going to the movies.”
The shopping center has more than 80 retail stores and restaurants — including Old Navy, Sears, Kismet, Snooze, Cafe Rio, Mellow Mushroom and Pho 95. It opened amidst the Great Recession in 2009. Both Golden and Centennial City Councilman Vorry Moon say it has weathered the storm and is thriving.
“The recession got everybody and everything. They suffered through that, too, but they came out of that OK. They’re rolling and doing well now,” said Moon, whose District 1 includes the Streets at Southglenn. “They’re bringing in stores that are priced right and welcoming to the neighborhood.”
The center has brought in shops like H&M, which opened its fourth Denver metro location last year at Streets at Southglenn. Alberta Development Partners, which manages the outdoor mall, declined to comment for this report.
Moon also said the fact the center does not have many vacancies lends to its popularity and staying power.
“It’s very very important to the city and the region,” Moon said. “It’s an asset and it adds to the bottom line, but it also attracts people to Centennial, which is a good thing”
The Streets at Southglenn has accounted for 9 percent of the city’s income over the last few years, said city spokeswoman Allison Wittern.
“The shopping and dining experience is terrific,” Wittern said in an e-mail. “There is a community feel to the shopping center — a place people want to go. Outdoor concerts in the summer, ice rink in the winter, a festive atmosphere during the holidays. The additional retail that has recently located to the Streets at Southglenn has increased traffic to the site.”
Wittern said the city sees the Streets at Southglenn as a lifestyle center — where people can shop, play and live in nearby apartments— as well as one of the city’s largest retail centers.
Golden said he thinks the shopping center is going to continue to grow and get busier, which he said should make smaller businesses take notice.
“I’m looking outside of my window now, and there’s a lot going on — people walking around and shopping and skateboarders,” Golden said. “Plus it’s an attractive place to work; I personally believe they do a very good job with the amenities and the flowers.”
Clayton Woullard: 303-954-2953, cwoullard@denverpost.com or
