Rendering of the redeveloped Stanley Marketplace slated to open fall of 2015

The Stanley Marketplace project located at 2501 Dallas Street in Aurora continues to make progress and is slated to open this fall. The project sits on the border of Denver’s Stapleton neighborhood and Aurora.

Stanley Aviation utilized the site as its headquarters where aircraft ejector seats were manufactured beginning in 1954. The company was started by Bob Stanley who was the first person to ever fly a jet aircraft when he was working as a test pilot in 1942.

The vision for this adaptive reuse project is to convert the former Stanley Aviation property which has been sitting unused for years into a thriving urban marketplace. The 22-acre parcel and 100,000-square foot retail space will include:

• A beer garden and restaurant operated by Denver restauranteur Kevin Taylor
• Ample space for dining and retail
• A community park
• Indoor/outdoor event venue
• Office space

The aim of the project is to create a mix of well-known and independent retailers. Stanley Marketplace has announced the addition of three new tenants: Tootsies the Nail Shoppe, providing manicures and pedicures, Kismet, a women’s clothing and accessory store and Wax, a waxing salon presenting services for men and woman. Businesses from a wide variety of industries have expressed interest in the property. Tenants that are selected are done so by their relevance to Colorado and the Stapleton and Aurora community.

The Stapleton-based firm Flightline Ventures consisting of Stapleton residents Mark Shaker, Lorin Ting and Megan Von Wald partnered with the City of Aurora to bring this project to fruition.

“We’re incredibly excited to announce these businesses as the most recent additions to the Stanley family,” said Shaker. “Based on our research, the community definitely sees a need for their services, and we’re happy to welcome them to Stanley.”

The City of Aurora also identified the need for a public gathering place in the area and made Flightline Ventures aware of the vacant property. The marketplace is part of a much larger redevelopment plan Aurora has for urban revitalization along the Westerly Creek corridor.

“It’s just thrilling to watch the pieces of this project fall into place,” said Aurora City Manager Skip Noe. “The anticipation for the Stanley Marketplace continues to build in the community, and we are counting down to opening day.”