Editor’s note: This is part of The Know’s series, Staff Favorites. Each week, we will offer our opinions on the best that Colorado has to offer for dining, shopping, entertainment, outdoor activities and more.
Like any sharp layout, the halls of the 100,000-square-foot Stanley Marketplace tend to prune places I’m not interested in. Walking the line between food stalls, boutiques, delis, gyms and other small businesses is like window shopping — and with 50 or so local tenants, there’s a lot to choose from.
Still, this 5-year-old, former aviation manufacturing facility in North Aurora has become a regular stop for my family. Few places with so many choices allow you to so quickly zero in on what you want.
That helps temper the vicissitudes of mealtime in my house. Yes, sometimes my kids are in the mood for delightfully crispy-edged dumplings from Misaki, a charming — if expensive — sushi joint. Sometimes, when we visit in person (and especially in warm weather) they want to hang out in and around Sweet Cow, an old-school ice cream shop with a fake-grass lawn and bouncy cows for toddlers.
Mommy and her friends (I don’t drink anymore) dig Cheluna Brewery, with its cozy, tiled walls and occasional live music, as well as the upscale Mr. B’s Wine and Spirits. Nearby outdoor areas for adult beverages — they’re allowed to roam, open-container, in and around the facility — give visitors elbow room on summer nights. And the Stanley Beer Hall rules them all, with 37 pour-your-own taps, huge TVs, a covered patio, and an orbiting ring of sort-of-attended-to children.
Despite the occasional (and current) road closure, packed parking lot, or construction detour, it’s fairly easy to get in and out. And if you’re conscious of the area’s rapid gentrification, take note of the diverse programming, from immersive art (“Camp Christmas”) and world-class, touring VR installations (“Carne y Arena”) to grassroots theater, comedy and music that make a point of showcasing women, LGBTQ and BIPOC voices.
Sure, a lot of the wares (food or otherwise) are pricey, but you could argue that’s justified. Some of the city’s best food resides here, including Chook, Annette, Rosenberg’s Bagels and Comida, for starters.
There’s also a kid-friendly undercurrent to everything, with bright, splashy murals (painted by kids), games and rotating outdoor play areas, not to mention high ceilings and plenty of concrete runways. The ever-changing roster of businesses keeps me on my toes (howdy, Churreria de Madrid and farewell, Glazed and Confused) even if I’ve come to depend on names like Logan House Coffee and Denver Biscuit Co.
For me, though, it’s all about the empanadas from Maria Empanada, one of the city’s best purveyors of the Argentinian pocket miracles. If I’m near, it’s simply a must-stop. I have a feeling I’m not alone in that.
2501 Dallas St. in Aurora. 720-990-6743 or stanleymarketplace.com
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