Best Places For Last-Second Holiday Shopping at Denver International Airport

If you’re flying out of one of the world’s busiest airports this holiday season, you may be expected to arrive at your destination bearing a present or two. And if your pre-departure days are too busy to make it to the mall and you’re also avoiding Amazon, checking off your holiday gift list might be a challenge. Have no fear: DIA is here. With its many retail outlets and kiosks, it’s basically a mall with runways. If you arrive early for your flight — and you should — you’ll have plenty of time to grab a few really last-minute gifts. Here are a few stores where you can pick up some stocking stuffers before boarding.

Boxtastic
Concourse B near Gate B21
Concourse C near Gate C48
We don’t get it either, but if someone on your “nice” list is cuckoo for Labubus, these kiosks in Concourses B and C will have them covered. (A third Concourse A location is scheduled for January). The pop-up shops are operated by the owners of Truong An Gifts, which has long been a staple in the Little Saigon Business District. In addition to the viral vinyl and plush figurines, Boxtastic carries kawaii (cute) pop culture collectibles, Pokémon cards and snacks such as Japanese gummies.

Tattered Cover Bookstore
Center Core, Concourses A, B and C
While the beloved LoDo location is gone and Denver’s leading independent bookstore is now owned by Barnes & Noble, a tome from the Tattered Cover still holds much more cachet than a paperback from Hudson News — although the concessions are operated by Hudson News under a licensing agreement with B&N. (Go figure.) You can find the latest bestselling books, ebooks and audiobooks in all three concourses, along with merchandise, magazines and more.

Coors x Colorado Unlimited
Concourse A near Gate A32
Center Core, Concourses B and C
For the beer-drinkers on your list who don’t know their IPA from their Imperial Porter — or who are just huge fans of the 1977 film Smokey and the Bandit — these kiosks will provide the perfect presents. Centennial State-themed apparel favorite Colorado Limited has teamed up with Golden’s iconic brewery to offer a line of Coors-branded apparel, accessories, drinkware and suds-inspired souvenirs.

Kabod Coffee
Jeppesen Terminal Level 6 (outside Security)
Concourse B, Gates B24 and B89
Brighten someone’s morning with a bag of freshly roasted, 100% organic, single-source beans grown on small, family-owned farms in the heart of Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee. If you’re feeling peckish, Kabod also has fresh-pressed juices, kombucha and nitro cold brew coffee on tap, along with grab-and-go food items such as pastries, bagels and sandwiches.

Björn’s Colorado Honey
Center Core, Concourse B and near Gate B51
Concourse A near Gate A48
Concourse C near Gate C33
How sweet it is: This apian outfit offers lovingly crafted honeys and honey products and is headquartered in Boulder. Swedish-born beekeeper Pontus learned the craft from his grandfather, Björn, and now he and his family produce a select line of Colorado honey, plus bee-based skincare products. 

Aksels
Center Core, Concourse B
We can’t guarantee that they’re actually the “world’s comfiest socks,” but they’re certainly comfy and Colorado cool. Aksels started by selling screenprinted Colorado-flag tees from a trunk in 2007, before expanding to hats, socks, accessories and now, designs promoting other states. Stuff a stocking with some stockings and #keepitawesome.

Greetings From Colorado
Center Core, Concourses A and B
You want local? Greetings From Colorado fits the bill with state-produced products, including gummies, chocolates, lollipops and popcorn from Denver’s Hammond’s Candies, handcrafted jerky from Climax Jerky in Breckenridge, artisanal hot sauces from Aurora’s Coppers Small Batch and premium pepper flakes and spice blends from Flatiron Pepper Co. in Arvada.