Saturday, April 8th was the grand opening of Backyard on Blake, a new development featuring a curated variety of businesses in Denver’s River North neighborhood. In essence, Backyard on Blake is a mini-mall of sorts, but it is much more than that. The location is made up of two buildings (one being your classic, restored RiNo warehouse) with a central lawn and patio in-between, creating a communal vibe for both visitors to the Backyard and tenants alike.
I was elated to go to the grand opening because (1) Backyard on Blake is practically in my backyard and is only a short walk from home, (2) I love the ideas behind communal, multi-functional spaces like the Backyard that offer retail shops, dining, various services, and your good ol’ Cup of Joe, and (3) Free champagne and cupcakes are practically my middle name (Bloody Mary being my first name!).
The event organizers gave guests small gift boxes to take home, which included lots of awesome discounts and freebies for Backyard on Blake businesses. Thanks ya’ll! The event featured live music, glittery cupcakes, ice cream sandwiches from Petey Bird, oodles and oodles of champagne, and ample sunshine-time spent with friends and the RiNo community.
Backyard on Blake was created by Mainspring Developers, a Denver-born company that designs buildings and spaces that “focus on the intersection between existing architecture and new uses that foster, enhance, support, and revitalize communities.” The Backyard’s tenants include And Collaborative (a custom furniture and photography business), Blue Sparrow Coffee, Brinkman Construction, Edge on Street (an upscale clothing boutique), The Fitness Branch (an exercise facility focusing on grop classes and personal training), Judith & Joe (a retail shop with products attached to a mission, like USA-made and sustainably-produced items), La Lovely Vintage (a vintage goods store), Meraki Moon (a women’s boutique specializing in bohemian clothing and accessories), The Preservery (a restaurant, bakery, and bar that sometimes features live music), River North Workshop (a workshop and homeware store), Spinster Sisters Co. (an all-natural, Colorado-made skincare products shop), and Workroom (a co-working space).
One of my favorite visits was to the River North Workshop, which has the cutest homeware items, like adorable hanging succulent pots, and really, really awesome-sounding workshops. Meraki Moon was another favorite because they have free-spirited and beautiful clothing, which is my personal style. I may spend too much money there upon my return… :) Lastly, I visited The Preservery to check it out and cannot wait to have brunch and a Bloody sometime soon!
To say the event was a success is an understatement! It was representative of who RiNo is as a neighborhood and I am truly excited to return. I recommend stopping by Backyard on Blake if you want a new taste of a community while you shop, dine, or just hangout!
Backyard on Blake is located at:
3040 Blake St, Denver, CO 80205
