It is hard to believe but the 16th Street Mall turned 25 years old this week. Having only been 5 years old when it opened, I have never known Downtown Denver without 16th street being the mile long pedestrian mall it is today. You can read more about it in this Rocky Mountain News article.

I attended the press conference where the Mayor, an RTD official and the CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership made remarks in Skyline Park. It was a great spot as the D & F Tower was directly behind them and mall shuttles came and went during the program. I have very fond memories of the mall and Downtown from when my parents worked in office buildings along 17th avenue.

I remember going to Joslins and May D & F. I remember when the old school Banana Republic store was on the second floor of the Masonic Building across from where the Pavilions would eventually go. One of my most vivid memories was of going to Woolworths on one of their last days of operation. I remember the sign that said “World’s Biggest Woolworths” and how cool it was that it had two levels. Since I grew up in the suburbs coming Downtown was always fun and exciting.

Of course the Mall has changed dramatically since then and today I have a new found appreciation for the stability and vitality the Mall has brought to Downtown. Milestones such as these always ask the question of what the next 25 years will bring. There are interesting Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News articles that talks about the next steps for updating and re-envisioning the mall in the future.

I will be excited to see what changes are in store for the Mall and for Downtown. Happy Birthday!