Big changes are afoot in Cherry Creek. Crews have begun demolishing several of the shopping center’s freestanding buildings on the west side to make way for a sprawling mixed-use neighborhood, Cherry Creek West. Locals were forced to say goodbye to Elway’s, an upscale steak house that operated in one of the now-demolished spaces for more than 20 years. And developers say the first building of this new project likely won’t be completed until 2029. In other words, Cherry Creek will be filled with a cacophony of construction for the foreseeable future.
But even amid the dust and noise, a seasoned Denver chef and restaurateur is banking on the long-term allure of the ritzy retail zone. Sean Huggard’s Ash & Agave, a Mexican Riviera–themed cantina and grill, is now open inside the mall—and he thinks it’s worth navigating the maze of orange cones to get there.
“I’m leaning into the mall location; people here want their margaritas and guacamole,” Huggard says. “Retail is doing great here. Sales are up [at the Cherry Creek Shopping Center] 20 percent year over year. People don’t want to buy a $10,000 purse online.”…