Reader: Sad That the Mall, the Busiest Place in Denver, Is the Least Like Actual Denver

The 16th Street Mall is one of the city's major tourist attractions, but visitors don't get much of a taste of homegrown Denver shops and restaurants along this stretch, where chains and souvenir stores predominate. There are some rare exceptions, including the I Heart Denver store in the Pavilions, our...

By Westword Staff

April 7, 2016

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The 16th Street Mall is one of the city's major tourist attractions, but visitors don't get much of a taste of homegrown Denver shops and restaurants along this stretch, where chains and souvenir stores predominate. There are some rare exceptions, including the I Heart Denver store in the Pavilions, our Best Store on the 16th Street Mall, and Wikipita, which just won Best Food Cart on the 16th Street Mall. And just a few steps away, at 1543 Champa Street, you'll find our Best New Bar, Union Lodge #1. But such stops are few and far between. Says Jeremy:

Good businesses and restaurants can't afford the rent on the mall. So we get a tourist trap filled with shitty national chains. It's sad that the busiest place in the city is the least like the actual city of Denver.

What would you like to see on the 16th Street Mall? When you want visitors to see the actual city of Denver, where do you send them?

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