Shopping
The Boulder shopping scene has gone through some changes in the past few years. Items that are unusual, eclectic, handmade, imported, upscale, or sporty are available in abundance. If you’re in the market for a couch or a housedress, however, the pickings are a bit skimpier. Once the shopping hub for the region, Boulder had been losing ground to neighboring communities and the big-box stores that are springing up in the region. The city’s shopping scene has evolved once again with the opening of 29th Street. Built on the site of the former Crossroads Mall, 29th Street is Boulder’s newest retail district. The addition of this unique outdoor shopping venue complements smaller businesses and only enhances and enriches the other shopping options available in Boulder. A variety of shops, restaurants with indoor and outdoor seating, and plazas and open space create a vibrant environment for shopping and gathering with friends. The new sixteen-screen Century Theater is located on the property as well.
Shopping - The Arts
Despite its small-city size, Boulder offers a big-city arts scene, ranging from local artists with national reputations to the summer Colorado Music Festival with musicians from around the world. The internationally renowned Colorado Dance Festival and the Colorado Shakespeare Festival also attract top talent. The Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art (BMoCA) and the University of Colorado galleries show work by both locally and nationally known artists. In addition to exhibitions, BMoCA and Naropa University (see the Child Care and Education chapter) sponsor innovative arts events and community theater; dance and music groups provide a varied mix of entertainment.
Proximity to Denver expands the arts horizon with the Denver Art Museum, Colorado Symphony, Denver Center Theatre Company, and a number of small theater companies. Even closer, the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities offers theater, music, dance, and visual art by Colorado’s best and nationally known artists. The nearby communities of Longmont, Louisville, Lafayette, Lyons, Central City, Golden, and Nederland offer their own historical museums, music and theater groups, and art exhibitions as well.
The following are just the highlights of the area’s arts offerings. Note that we have listed museums in our Attractions chapter. You may notice that many of the groups have the same address. That’s the Dairy Center for the Arts, a 40,000-square-foot space that used to house the Watts-Hardy Dairy. The empty building was purchased as a home for small arts groups, and today about 15 such groups make their home there.
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Shopping
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Shopping
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Shopping
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Shopping
5. Basemar Shopping Center
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Shopping
Description: Wild Oats health food market is the centerpiece of this L-shaped strip mall just south of the CU campus. Next door is The Egg and I and Starbucks. This center offers a nice mix of little shops and services, including Buffalo Lock and Key, which is quick at matching keys and getting into locked cars. Herb’s Meats and Specialty Foods boasts a wide variety of beef, poultry, and game. The Taj restaurant serves a popular Middle Eastern buffet.
6. Holiday Neighborhood
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Shopping
Description: Boulder’s newest shopping district is known as the “Holiday Neighborhood”. The name comes from the old ‘50s twin-screen Holiday Drive-In. The original sign was refurbished a couple of years ago and graces the entrance to the neighborhood on the south side. Transformed into an area rich with entrepreneurs, artists and home-grown businesses, Holiday is funky and hip. You’ll find restaurants like Organic Orbit, 4580, Proto’s Pizza, as well as Amante Coffee. Across Broadway you’ll find the fun and laid back Terrace Maya restaurant, featuring an outdoor patio and yummy, authentic Mexican food. You’ll find the perfect treasure for your home at The Amazing Garage Sale on the west side of Broadway as well.
7. The Meadows Shopping Center
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Shopping
Description: As Boulder has grown eastward, this strip mall has become busier and busier. More than 50 businesses are part of this large neighborhood shopping complex, located near several retirement and senior-living facilities. It includes a Safeway, along with Glacier Homemade Ice Cream and Gelato, Art Cleaners, and Rite Aid. Take a lunch break at Lee Yuan Chinese restaurant. Michael’s craft store offers everything from candle wax and rattan by the bundle to baking supplies and picture framing. Nick-N-Willy’s Pizza, Blockbuster and Big Daddy Bagels are longtime residents of this center as well. The Meadows branch library on the south side of the shopping center has a popular meeting room, in addition to the books and other materials of a well-stocked branch.
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Shopping
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Shopping
10. Table Mesa Shopping Center
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Shopping
Description: In addition to a King Soopers and the usual complement of restaurants and various stores, this South Boulder shopping center has many excellent outdoor stores, including Neptune Mountaineering, Play It Again Sports, and Weaver’s Dive Center. Weaver’s is for divers, but weavers go to Shuttles, Spindles and Skeins. The Cooking School of the Rockies holds classes, from practical to decadent, recreational to professional, and has a small retail section with gourmet cookware. Stop in and enjoy a pint of brew and a healthy lunch from locally owned restaurant/brewpub Southern Sun.
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Shopping
12. Gunbarrel Square
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Shopping
Description: It’s not extensive, but for the residents of Gunbarrel, who for many years had only a King Soopers grocery and tiny strip mall, the expanded shopping area of Gunbarrel Square is a welcome enhancement. Gunbarrel Square includes the Printed Page, a small but high-quality bookstore with a charming cafe. Other food offerings include pizza and subs, Akiyama Sushi Bar and Grill, and Serrano’s Southwestern grill. Also here are a Mail Boxes, Etc., a flower shop, a liquor store, and even a private elementary school.
13. Twin Peaks Mall
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (303) 651-6454
Description: Nearly 10 million shoppers a year visit the 80 stores and 10 eateries at this traditional, regional, enclosed shopping center, which was renovated and expanded in 1997. (The name refers to the view west to two Rocky Mountain peaks.) The big draws presently include Sears, and Dillard’s department stores. Another major draw is the United Artists 10-screen movie complex.Twin Peaks features many of the national chain stores: Victoria’s Secret, Foot Locker, Bath and Body Works, and Gymboree, as well as several jewelry and shoe stores. Woodley’s Fine Furniture features locally made items. In addition to such sit-down restaurants as Red Robin and Chili’s, there’s a food court that serves up the usual burgers, pizza, and Chinese food.
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Shopping
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Shopping