The stretch of South Broadway roughly between Mississippi and Evans avenues has a pair of monikers: the Green Mile, for its pot shops, and Antique Row, for its vintage stores. Neither, however, captures its vibe. “The breweries, the high-end housing, the shops,” says Michelle Kidd, marketing manager of Meier Skis, which moved to the neighborhood in 2019, “are bringing in a ton of energy.”

Fifty-two 80’s A Totally Awesome Shop

1874 S. Broadway
Sure, Fifty-two 80’s vintage offerings may be sourced from 1975 to 1995, but they’re far from stuffy heirlooms. And if the Day-Glo kaleidoscope of He-Man and Star Wars action figures, Troll dolls, trading card packs, and other toys lining the shelves don’t thrill you, just come back later: Co-owners Tony Vecchio and Dede Thompson are always procuring new memories to stir multi-generational nostalgia.

5280 July 2023
More From The Issue

Public Offering Brewing Company

1736 S. Broadway
No Denver hot spot would be complete without a beer hall (or five), and from Dos Luces Brewery’s Latin American–inspired libations to Grandma’s House’s buzzy crafting nights to Ratio Beerworks’ second location, South Broadway has plenty. After joining the crowd in 2022, Public Offering immediately stood out thanks to its industrial-modern build-out, sunny patio, and accessible tap list, including excellent hazy IPAs. But Meier Skis’ Kidd prefers the lemon-tinted Open Spaces Kölsch: “I love that Public Offering has really nice light beers, so you don’t have to drink eight percent ABV after work.”

Ruby Hill Park

Photo by Evan Semón Photography/Courtesy of Denver Parks & Recreation

1200 W. Florida Ave.
Although the 88-acre green space isn’t technically on South Broadway, Ruby Hill pairs so well with this stretch of the thoroughfare, we consider it annexed territory. Levitt Pavilion is a major reason why. Built in 2017 by the nonprofit Levitt Foundation, the amphitheater draws huge crowds to its free concert series each summer. Pregame for the July 1 show by Denver hip-hop group the FloBots at nearby Trashhawk Tavern. The dive is known for its menu of straightforward and irreverent cocktails such as the Pink Nasty (vanilla vodka and orange Fanta) and the Spaghetts (a Miller High Life with a squeeze of lemon and your choice of Campari or Aperol).

Spectra Art Space

1836 S. Broadway
Meow Wolf isn’t Denver’s only immersive experience. Six-year-old Spectra Art Space hosts two interactive shows a year: autumn’s Spookadelia, a psychedelic haunted house with themes of self- exploration and social awareness, and summer’s Novo Ita, which transports visitors to a botanical sci-fi city. “The intention is to inspire people to be better to the planet and to each other,” says owner Sadie Young. Spectra recently added performers to enhance the narrative-driven, self-guided experiences, and this season’s Novo Ita (through September) will feature a redesigned cityscape.

This article was originally published in 5280 July 2023.
Nicholas Hunt
Nicholas Hunt
Nicholas writes and edits the Compass, Adventure, and Culture sections of 5280 and writes for 5280.com.