Shopping in South Denver: From Cherry Creek to Local Boutiques
Ask locals where they shop and you’ll almost always hear the same answer: Cherry Creek. But that answer undersells the full picture. South Denver’s retail scene stretches across several distinct areas, each with its own personality and mix of stores.
Cherry Creek Shopping Center anchors the retail core of the Cherry Creek neighborhood and remains the highest-end enclosed shopping center in Colorado. With around 160 stores, it draws shoppers from across the Front Range specifically for brands you can’t find anywhere else in the state. Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Macy’s anchor the center, and the specialty retail lineup includes Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Montblanc, Gucci, Coach, and dozens more.
Cherry Creek Shopping Center
3000 E. 1st Ave, Denver, CO 80206 | shopcherrycreek.com
The parking situation is better than you’d expect for a center this size — there are several garages, and the one off Milwaukee Street tends to be less crowded.
One thing we appreciate: Cherry Creek Shopping Center has done a solid job adding Denver-specific brands alongside the nationals. You’ll find local chocolatier Enstrom Candies and other Colorado-flavored retail mixed in with the flagship names.
## Cherry Creek North: The Outdoor Shopping District
Right outside the walls of Cherry Creek Shopping Center is a completely different shopping experience. Cherry Creek North is a 16-block outdoor shopping and dining district — and honestly, it’s where we spend most of our time. The streets are walkable, the mix of stores is more interesting, and the restaurant options while you shop are significantly better.
Cherry Creek North runs roughly from 1st to 3rd Avenue and from University Boulevard to Steele Street. The concentration of independently owned boutiques here is unusual for a major Denver neighborhood — most have survived and thrived alongside the big names because they offer something distinctly different.
### Clothing and Fashion Boutiques
The fashion boutique scene in Cherry Creek North is well-developed and skews toward women’s clothing, though there are good options for everyone.
A Line Boutique
2700 E. 2nd Ave, Denver, CO 80206 | cherrycreeknorth.com/go/a-line-boutique
A Line Boutique has been recognized by Lucky Magazine and Elle as one of Colorado’s best boutiques. The curated selection of women’s fashion draws a loyal following for its on-trend pieces and personal service.
State & Liberty Clothing Company
2800 E. 2nd Ave, Denver, CO 80206 | stateandliberty.com
State & Liberty offers contemporary American designer clothing with a modern sensibility. The locally-owned boutique has built a reputation for sourcing emerging labels alongside established brands.
### Home and Lifestyle
CB2
210 St. Paul St, Denver, CO 80206 | cb2.com
CB2 opened its Cherry Creek North location in 2018, bringing modern furniture and home decor to the neighborhood. The store offers contemporary pieces at accessible price points, perfect for anyone furnishing a new home or looking for unique gifts.
West Elm
2400 E. 2nd Ave, Denver, CO 80206 | westelm.com
West Elm’s Cherry Creek North location offers modern furniture and home decor with a focus on sustainable materials. The store is part of the larger Cherry Creek North retail scene and draws design-conscious shoppers from across the Denver metro area.
### Cherry Creek North Quick Reference
Category | What You’ll Find | Best For
Fashion | Independent boutiques, designer labels | Unique pieces, personal style
Home & Gifts | CB2, West Elm, specialty shops | Furnishing, decorating, gifts
Western/Local | Colorado-specific brands | Colorado-specific finds
## Belcaro and Bonnie Brae: Neighborhood Shopping Done Right
If Cherry Creek is South Denver’s shopping headline, Belcaro and Bonnie Brae are the well-kept secrets. These adjacent neighborhoods sit just south of Cherry Creek and feel distinctly residential — which is exactly why the retail here works. Shops that have survived decades here have done so by becoming genuinely woven into the fabric of the neighborhood.
Bonnie Brae in particular has a tight concentration of small businesses along East Ohio Avenue and South University Boulevard. This isn’t a destination shopping strip — it’s the kind of place you wander into because you live nearby, or because someone who does told you to go.
Bonnie Brae Ice Cream
799 S. University Blvd, Denver, CO 80209 | bonniebrae-icecream.com
Okay, not technically a retail boutique — but no conversation about Bonnie Brae shopping is complete without mentioning this place. The line out the door on summer evenings tells you everything.
The Belcaro area along East Alameda Avenue has a scattering of specialty shops — antique dealers, local service businesses, and a few gems that reward foot traffic more than Yelp searches.
## University Hills Plaza
University Hills Plaza sits at the intersection of Evans Avenue and Colorado Boulevard and represents a different category of South Denver shopping: the practical, neighborhood-anchor strip. This is where residents in the University Hills, Virginia Village, and surrounding neighborhoods handle the bulk of their everyday shopping.
The anchor tenant is King Soopers (one of the larger ones in the area), and the strip includes a mix of national chains and local businesses.
University Hills Plaza
2200 S. Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO 80222
The plaza has undergone some redevelopment pressure in recent years as the Colorado Boulevard corridor evolves.
## Village Pointe at Greenwood Village
A few miles south in the city of Greenwood Village — an independent municipality, not a Denver neighborhood — Village Pointe offers a lifestyle center format that’s become increasingly popular with South Denver shoppers who want the feel of outdoor shopping without the parking challenge of Cherry Creek.
Village Pointe is anchored by larger format stores and has a mix of national retailers oriented toward outdoor living, fitness, and home.
Village Pointe
5390 Greenwood Plaza Blvd, Greenwood Village, CO 80111
REI’s presence here is notable — the Greenwood Village REI is one of the better-stocked locations along the Front Range.
South Denver Guide is a local resource for neighborhood guides, real estate insights, and things worth doing in South Denver. No fluff, just useful.