Garbarini Cherry Creek History

Cherry Creek has many unique shops and restaurants and seemed like the perfect fit for Garbarini's growing business. Roughly 37 years ago, Terri decided to step away from school, where she was pursuing her master's in art and history, and open Garbarini. She has always loved the arts and interior design but found an outlet in fashion as it featured many of her passions and was an easily accessible form of art for all.When asked about Garbarini Cherry Creek, Terri says, "I get to completely reinvent the store every season with new styles, new lines, and colors. I love it, and I love going to New York twice a year. Plus, I have met the most amazing, interesting women throughout the years. It's a fun environment to work in. People are usually very happy when they are in the store shopping for beautiful things." (Westword, 2014) Garbarini strives to stay on top of fashion, featuring some of the best names in one location. Denver has never really been a "fashion" city, but with people moving here from everywhere, Terri says it brings in more cutting-edge fashion styles and gives Garbarini the ability to sell more diverse pieces. Though you can shop Garbarini's offerings online, being Cherry Creek allows Garbarini to remain a local business close to the heart of its people.

Aside from our high-end clothing pieces, we carry designer bags, hats, belts, and shoes. Garbarini Cherry Creek also has jewelry, candles, and great women's gifts! Our boutique is different from the rest because we also offer personal styling and guided shopping — which is a unique service very few boutiques do anymore. The stylists at Garbarini ensure you are looking your best and feeling that way, too, while fostering relationships that will last a lifetime. Since the beginning of their professional careers, many of our patrons have been with us, and we have dressed them for many special occasions and major life events. These relationships create so much pride and responsibility for our styling team.

On the corner of 4th and St. Paul, a private house has a plaque bearing the name "Harman Town Hall." Edwin P. Harman served all the town's legal needs. Not only did he found the now Cherry Creek neighborhood, it then held the name "The Town of Harman." Schools, churches, and the town hall were built.In 1895, The Town of Harman was annexed by Denver. As years passed, Denverites named the neighborhood Cherry Creek which is derived from the flowing creek nearby. As early as the 1930s, there were shops along 6th Avenue toward the bottom of Cherry Creek and along 3rd Avenue and Detroit.Temple Buell bought the land where Cherry Creek mall currently sits. The land Buell bought was called "The Grove." He purchased this land in 1924, which started a 24-year dispute over zoning and political maneuvering. Finally, in 1949, ground broke on the Cherry Creek Shopping Center.The mall opened in 1950 and had just a few stores. There was a grocery store and movie theater further east, which was the start of establishing Cherry Creek as a new destination hub for shoppers. The original shopping center served all of the retail needs of the people of Denver for about 40 years.In 1990, the new mall was developed. Many people of Cherry Creek didn't want this new mall. They thought it would bring in too many people and too much traffic. Cherry Creek has strived on local businesses, and they were afraid the big stores would come in and take that charm away. To this day, it is said that 70% of businesses in Cherry Creek are local.Over the years, Cherry Creek continued to grow with the rest of the Denver Metro. Apartment buildings and retail spaces started popping up all over the place. In 2018, nine new buildings were built, which helped Cherry Creek experience a 24% increase in residential space, a 58% increase in hotel rooms, a 15% increase in office space, and 15% increase in retail space. (Yourhub, 2018) Sign up to join our mailing list and get the latest Garbarini trending topics and events right in your inbox.

The Origins of Cherry Creek

On the corner of 4th and St. Paul stands a private house with a plaque bearing the name "Harman Town Hall." Edwin P. Harman served all the legal needs of the town he founded, known then as "The Town of Harman." Schools, churches, and the town hall itself were among the first structures erected in this budding community.

Annexation and Renaming

In 1895, The Town of Harman was annexed by Denver. Over time, the neighborhood became known as Cherry Creek, named after the nearby flowing creek that provided a natural charm to the area. By the 1930s, signs of development emerged with shops lining 6th Avenue and other key streets.

The Grove and Cherry Creek Shopping Center

Temple Buell played a pivotal role in shaping Cherry Creek's destiny when he purchased the land known as "The Grove" in 1924. However, this acquisition sparked a 24-year dispute over zoning and political maneuvering. Eventually, in 1949, ground was broken on what would become the Cherry Creek Shopping Center. Opening in 1950 with just a few stores, it marked the beginning of Cherry Creek's transformation into a retail destination.

Modern Developments and Challenges

Over the years, Cherry Creek evolved, facing both opportunities and challenges. In 1990, a new mall was developed, sparking concerns among some residents about potential traffic and the impact on local businesses. Despite these fears, Cherry Creek has maintained its charm, with approximately 70% of its businesses still being local establishments. Recent years have seen significant growth, with new buildings contributing to a substantial increase in residential, hotel, office, and retail space by 2018.

Continued Growth

Cherry Creek's story continues to unfold as it grows alongside the rest of the Denver Metro area. Apartment buildings, retail spaces, and other developments have emerged, reflecting the area's ongoing transformation and its enduring appeal as a vibrant community hub.