Looking for some retail therapy or just basic goods? You can eat, shop and play all over the region with this guide.
Old Colorado City
Audrey Julian
The original capital of the Colorado Territory is now a local-biz hub that thrives on an eclectic mix of Wild West ethos, stylish boutiques, fine to funky galleries, souvenir kitsch and chef-driven dining hot spots. visitoldcoloradocity.org
Eat: Pizzeria Rustica, Paravicini’s, Sopra, Tapateria, Alchemy, Jake and Telly’s, Uchenna, Slice420, Till Kitchen, Pub Dog
Shop: Eve’s Revolution, EllyBlue, The Squash Blossom, 45 Degree Gallery, Hunter-Wolff Gallery, Chavez Gallery
Play: Live music at Front Range Barbecue. Monthly First Friday ArtWalks. Seasonal happenings, such as Christmas Stroll and the annual Territory Days festival.
Downtown
Audrey Julian.
Downtown is the heart of the city, and the epicenter of its booming local dining scene. Tejon Street is the main artery for shopping, dining and nightlife. There are too many hot spots to name them all, but here a few to get started with. downtowncs.com
Eat: CO.A.T.I. Uprise, Brakeman’s Burgers, Streetcar520, Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar, Mood Tapas Bar, Denver Biscuit Co./Atomic Cowboy/Fat Sully’s, Lucky Dumpling, The Rabbit Hole, Dos Santos, Phantom Canyon, Loyal Coffee, Colorado Craft Tejon Social, Cork & Cask, Pikes Peak Lager House, Oskar Blues
Shop: Terra Verde, Title Nine, Yobel Market, Halo Boutique, Sparrow Hawk Cookware, Ladyfingers Letterpress, Mountain Chalet, Little Richard’s Toy Store
Play: CityRock climbing gym. Cycology spin studio. Nightclubs Cowboys and the Mansion.
Manitou Springs
Historic, quirky, funky, weird—the lovable little enclave at the base of Pikes Peak offers a unique collection of small businesses, restaurants and galleries, including the region’s only recreational marijuana dispensaries. manitousprings.org
Eat: Manitou Brewing Company, Mona Lisa Fondue, Crystal Park Cantina, Adam’s Mountain Cafe, Border Burger Bar, Swirl Wine Bar
Shop: Anna’s Apothecary, Whickerbill Gifts, The Olive Tap, Salus Natural Body Care, Piramide Boutique, Commonwheel Artists Co-Op, Green Horse Gallery
Play: Soothing mineral springs soak at the SunWater Spa. Vintage video and mechanical games and rides at the old-school Penny Arcade. Live music at Lulu’s Downstairs or Kinsfolk. Ziplines at Adventures Out West. Via Ferrata and underground tours at Cave of the Winds.
Powers Corridor
Looking for a big-box retailer on the east side? You’re sure to find it along Powers at shopping centers like First and Main Town Center. With residential neighborhoods booming to the east, the centers of goods and services have kept pace. Local restaurants and microbreweries have been on the uptick too. 3650 New Center Point,
firstandmaintowncenter.com
Eat: Urban Egg, H Beerworks, Jose Muldoon’s, Wobbly Olive, Slingers Smokehouse & Saloon, Hurts Donuts, countless chains
Shop: Costco, Super Target, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Best Buy, you name it
Play: Join Toasty the S’more (pictured above) and the Rocky Mountain Vibes for minor league baseball. Summer concerts and farmers markets at First and Main.
Briargate
Brienne Boortz.
The northeastern ’burbs are filled with retail services, especially Chapel Hills Mall and surrounding N. Academy Boulevard. Nearby Promenade Shops at Briargate is the epicenter of upscale chains. 1885 Briargate Pkwy., thepromenadeshopsatbriargate.com, 1710 Briargate Blvd., chapelhillsmall.com
Eat: Basil & Barley, PigLatin Cocina, Back East Bar and Grill, Chuy’s, PF Chang’s, Modern Market, Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar
Shop: Apple, Anthropologie, Athleta, Lululemon, J. Crew, Banana Republic, Macy’s, Dillard’s, Nordstrom Rack, Old Navy, Best Buy, Whole Foods
Play: AMC Chapel Hills 13, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Glowgolf, Sky Zone Trampoline Park
Ivywild
The heartbeat of this ’hood is the Ivywild School, with Bristol Brewing Company as its anchor for community events and gatherings. Development along Cheyenne Creek and South Nevada Avenue is transforming once-blighted areas with popular fast-casual dining and retail chains.
Eat: Edelweiss German Restaurant, The Burrowing Owl, Prime25, The Principal’s Office, Distillery 291, Axe & The Oak Whiskey House, Caffeinated Cow
Shop: Natural Grocers, G44 Gallery, The Ski Shop
Play: Classic movie nights, concerts, beer release parties at Ivywild School. Live stage productions covering kids, comedy, drama, cabaret and more at the Millibo Art Theatre.
University Village
Near the fast-growing campus of the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS), University Village Colorado is a retail epicenter. 5262 N. Nevada Ave., uvcshopping.com
Eat: Hacienda Colorado, Il Vicino, Cowboy Star Restaurant & Butcher Shop, Bonefish Grill, fast-casual chains
Shop: Trader Joe’s, Costco, Fab’rik, Colorado Running Company, Christy Sports, Veda Salon & Spa
Play: Hike up nearby Pulpit Rock. Catch music, dance and theater at the Ent Center for the Arts.
Northgate
You’ll find big-name home-improvement warehouses and groceries, but there’s a dining and entertainment boom happening in this north-side enclave too.
Eat: Duca’s Neapolitan Pizza, Beasts and Brews, Bourbon Brothers Smokehouse & Tavern, Walter’s303 Pizzeria & Publik House, Steakhouse at Flying Horse
Shop: Sprouts Farmers Market. Bass Pro Shops’ restaurant, bowling alley, aquarium, archery range, or fishing and hunting workshops.
Play: High-speed go-karts at Overdrive Raceway. Country-leaning concerts and line dancing at Boot Barn Hall at Bourbon Brothers.
Tri-Lakes: Monument, Palmer Lake, Woodmoor
Among the northernmost bedroom communities, Monument and Palmer Lake boast quaint historic downtowns filled with noteworthy eat-and-drinkeries nestled against the Rampart Range.
Eat In Monument: Bistro on 2nd, Ice Cave Cider House, Horseshoe Donuts Pikes Peak Brewing Company. Eat In Palmer Lake: Speedtrap Bistro, O’Malley’s Steak Pub.
Shop: Twenty1Five custom furniture and design
Play: Stand-up paddleboard on Palmer Lake. Concerts and exhibits at Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts.
Interquest
Interquest is scorching hot, with more than $1 billion of private investment fueling a north-side commercial boom around Interquest and Voyager parkways. interquestcolorado.com
Eat: Colorado’s first In-N-Out Burger, Colorado Mountain Brewery, Atmosphere Gastropub, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, Parry’s Pizzeria & Taphouse, Shri Ganesh
Shop: Massive sports and entertainment retailer Scheels opens this spring.
Play: Blockbuster multiplexes Regal Cinemas and Icon Cinema. State-of-the-art bowling and laser tag at the Summit Interquest. Family waterpark fun at Great Wolf Lodge.
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