The Source, an artisan market born in 2013, is a must-visit location for visitors and locals alike. Located in a brick foundry from the 1800s in Denver’s River North District (RiNo), the Source is a collective of 15 different shops, restaurants and bars with a large, open interior space that lends itself to an immediate sense of openness and community.
Designers of the space used the original high ceilings and plentiful windows to their fullest extent, flooding the area with natural light and making it a perfect, wide-open space for all the vendors and tenants. The central seating area is perfect for drinking a cup of coffee from Boxcar Coffee Roasters, a roastery and coffee shop located in the market. From the center area, you can see everything from the flagship restaurant of the space, Acorn, which centers on its oak-fired grill and extensive beer and wine list, to Comida, a taco shop originally run out of a food truck in Longmont that serves some of the best tacos in Denver.
A quick walk-around will lead you to some of the smaller shops and stores in the Source: Beet and Yarrow and SVPER Ordinary. Beet and Yarrow is a custom florist where you can pick up pre-made or personalized bouquets of flowers or place an order for larger events. SVPER Ordinary is one of the premier art spaces in Denver, serving as both a gallery for artistic exhibitions and a curated retail space. The locale sells everything from artisan soaps to beard oil to custom journals, making it perfect for picking up a gift for a friend or even yourself.
Two of the pioneering forces behind the Source are Crooked Stave and Proper Pour. With a focus on craft brewery culture and the recent increased awareness about artfully preparing drinks, these two locations serve as perfect complements to one another and the space itself.
The Crooked Stave is the Source’s in-house brewery. Featuring a 20-barrel brewhouse and a full bar, the Crooked Stave is a must-visit spot for beer aficionados. Both its signature brews and other hard-to-find beers from around the world are available here, making a trip to the Crooked Stave not something to pass up.
If your passion leans towards other forms of alcohol, then Proper Pour may be for you. With more of an emphasis on wine and spirits, Proper Pour sells everything you need to make your favorite cocktails (or a glass of wine) in your own home. Specializing in independently produced spirits, specialty wine, housemade bitters and everything you need for a home bar (such as specialty glassware and cocktail sets) Proper Pour will not have you leaving disappointed.
If you find yourself hungry but not enough for a full meal, look no further than Babette’s. Babette’s expertise lies in baking, offering everything from thick crust country french bread to homemade pastries and croissants in the morning, perfect with a cup of coffee across the way at Boxcar.
If you are a foodie but can’t seem to find that one obscure ingredient for a dish, then Mondo Market is a dream come true. Priding itself on having many ingredients and food that normally are not easy to come across, Mondo is a place you definitely should not venture into if you are hungry and prone to impulse buying—otherwise you may find yourself walking out with anything from obscure Middle Eastern spices to Italian candy to cold pressed juices. However, Mondo has such a broad and extensive collection that you simply must go see it for yourself.
Offering a relaxed and laid back atmosphere in a beautiful space, complete with quite possibly a perfect selection of stores and vendors, the Source is unlike anything you have experienced before. It is easy to spend an entire afternoon taking it all in, but never fear—it is an afternoon that will be more than well-spent.
