Colorado's Abandoned Aviation Facility Is Now A Thriving Retro Shopping Hub

Sitting just 20 minutes from Denver, Colorado, Stanley Marketplace is far more than a shopping destination. The space has evolved from its roots as an industrial aviation facility to an energetic hub where people flock to shop, dine, create, commune, move, and learn all under one roof. It hosts more than 50 independently owned businesses and is named after Bob Stanley, a navy pilot and engineer whose career helped shape modern aviation at this very facility in the mid-1900s.

The marketplace has a "sip and stroll" program that allows visitors to purchase alcoholic beverages from vendors and enjoy them while moving around the common areas. This lends itself to perusing the various floral boutiques, record stores, clothing retailers, gift shops, and home goods vendors. The marketplace is also home to a psychology center, a hair salon, a barber, and a dental center, making it an all-in-one destination for locals. Food is a major draw, and visitors can find everything from small-batch ice cream to sushi flown in from California and Japan. East Coasters will adore the New York-style deli staples at Rosenberg's Bagels & Delicatessen, and after 5 p.m., Famous Original J's takes over the space and serves up classic Brooklyn-style pizza. Annette is known for wood-fired meals sourced from local producers and their James Beard Award-winning team.

The Mindcraft Makerspace offers various tools like 3D printers, a kiln for fused glass, laser cutters, sewing machines, endless arts and crafts supplies, and summer programs for kids. It also provides computers and tablets loaded with creative and design software to encourage learning and discovery. If guests are keen for some movement, they can participate in Pilates, gymnastics, or kickboxing sessions at one of the market's fitness studios.

Stanley Marketplace is found at 2501 Dallas Street in Aurora, Colorado, just east of Denver, a bucket list city for foodies. It sits along Colorado's Front Range corridor, just 7 miles from the Denver city center. For those arriving by air, Stanley Marketplace is just 20 minutes from Denver International Airport. While there are some underrated dining options at DEN with immaculate food, skip them and head to this market instead!

Once there, free parking lots can be found on the north, east, and south sides of the building. Marketplace hours run from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, with extended hours to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. That said, individual businesses might operate on their own schedules, so check specific hours ahead of time.

Holding true to the mission of creating community, Stanley Marketplace is open year-round and offers a packed events schedule. Live music performances are held throughout the week, and cooking classes and art-focused courses let participants develop new skills. Throughout the summer there are numerous children's programs from creative arts to gymnastic and movement-based activities. Some events are stand-alone, like the felted fruit workshop, and others are routinely on the calendar, like live music and kids programs. Prior booking is always recommended for workshops and smaller classes.

Before it became one of the area's most popular gathering spaces, Stanley Marketplace was an aviation manufacturing facility connected to one of the country's most influential aviation innovators: Bob Stanley. During World War II, he served as chief test pilot for Bell Aircraft, becoming the first person to fly America's first jet-powered aircraft. He worked alongside the U.S. Air Force and the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, contributing to technologies that broke the sound barrier in 1947. He continued on to found Stanley Aviation in 1948 and relocated the company to Aurora, Colorado, in 1954.

It opened as a 75,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, which soon expanded to about 140,000 square feet and became one of the area's largest employers. Stanley Aviation was known for developing some of the earliest ejection seat systems, and Bob Stanley's contributions to aviation earned him induction into the National Hall of Fame after his death in 1977. Manufacturing continued for decades before ultimately ending in 2007. The massive industrial building sat abandoned and emptied for seven years. In 2014, Flightline Ventures purchased and acquired the property and began redevelopment. They intended to keep the history of the building while giving it new purpose.

In 2016, Stanley Marketplace opened with a new mission: to create a place where community is celebrated. The space is guided by its "Stanifesto," and emphasizes connection, inclusivity, creativity, and bringing people together from all walks of life. Today, visitors will meet a wonderful concoction of food stalls, boutique shops, creative arts studios, fitness- and movement-based spaces, wellness businesses, and ample space to gather. For another fun destination in Colorado, visit Louisville, a Rocky Mountain gem between Denver and Boulder.