Forever 21 Flagship Opens

Welton Plaza Entrance

On Saturday July 31st, Forever 21, Downtown Denver’s newest and largest fast fashion department store celebrated its official grand opening after months of remodeling and construction at the Denver Pavilions.  The new space debuted to many excited shoppers and spectators first at a soft opening on Friday and then at the official event on Saturday morning.  Downtown Denver is clearly benefiting from a national trend of fast-fashion retailers taking over spaces from larger former retail tenants.

At 33,000 SF, this new space is more than four times the previous store’s size  and will now serve as another “mini-anchor” for both the Denver Pavilions and the rest of Downtown.  The new store expanded its footprint by taking over a good chunk of the former Virgin Megastore space on the ground level and adding a new second level that absorbed former nightclub spaces in the corner on the second level.  A new central escalator now connects the two levels of the flagship and a new entrance installed along Welton will allow shoppers a new way into the center.

Sign on Welton

Significant investments in new finishes, new dressing rooms, a new cash wrap, flooring, lighting and displays were made throughout the store.  Expanded and new product lines are another benefit of the new space and allows them to now offer men’s clothing, expanded accessories as well as their Heritage line.  I like that they were able to carve out and create small boutiques within the envelope of the store that have their own look and feel.