|
Even the Internet doesn’t have enough space to discuss all the great deals available Thursday, July 16, through Sunday, July 19, in the shopping district between by Steele and University and between East First and East Fifth avenues. So we’re going to pick a few personal favorites, and working on the assumption that the people who line up two hours before the stores open know where the bargains are, we’re also going to hit a few really high points – in alphabetical order. And if you’re not the sort to stand in line, check in on the sale’s last day on Sunday. The selection will be much reduced, but so will the prices – and the parking (never much of a problem in Cherry Creek North these days, anyway) will be free.
Artisan Center, 2757 E. Third Ave., 303-333-1201, artisancenterdenver.com. Discounts of 25 percent to 50 percent on hand-crafted glass, pottery, textiles, metalware, jewelry and baby items crafted by some of Colorado’s finest artisans.
Eccentricity, 290 Fillmore St., 303-388-887, eccentricity.com. Get in line for once-a-year discounts on the carefully selected inventory of jewelry, footwear from Lucchese and Naot, clothing from Oui Moments and Babette, travel accessories from Tilley and Baggallini and much more.
Garbarini, 3003 E. Third Ave., 303-333-8686, garbarinishop.com
Storeowner Terri Garbarini’s outdoor racks of tops, skirts, pants and jackets, originally up to $700, are $10 to $98 during the sidewalk sale, but the big fuss is about shoes.
Let her tell you:
“Everything outside is $98 or less! That includes three or four huge banquet tables piled with shoes (divided by size so you don't have to dig too much). Of course, the piles dwindle fairly quickly. We do a progressive sale on the shoes outside. For example: first pair, $60; second, pair $40; third pair, $30; fourth pair $20. So, for $150 dollars, you get four pair! You only have to buy one, but the second pair is an even better deal. Well, you can see where it leads, and why the piles disappear so fast. People often buy eight pair. I think 24 pair was the record number.”
Kazoo & Company Toy Store, 2930 E. Second Ave., 303-322-0973, www.KazooToys.com
Selections from Kazoo’s entire array – art toys, baby toys, construction toys, dolls, educational toys, games, musical toys, outdoor toys, puppets, puzzles, toy cars and trucks, you name it - will be marked down by 50 percent during the sidewalk sale, and a handful of clearance items will be 85 percent off.
SOL Store of Lingerie, 248 Detroit St., 303-394-1060, www.sollingerie.com
Customer-service intensive SOL starts its sidewalk sale a day early, and last year 500 customers were waiting in line when the store opened its doors at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. So get there at least 25 hours early if you want a shot at being one of the first 25 customers to spend at least $250 and take home a free SOL reusable shopping bag. If you snooze, you’ll just have to wait your turn to be fitted for the extremely popular Marie Jo Daisy bra, usually $110. Pink ones are $89.99 during the sidewalk sale. How, you may ask, does a store that fits each bra privately before it goes out the door sell 200 bras during one sidewalk sale, as it did last year? They’ve developed a three-prong strategy, adding a day to the sale, giving customers pagers so they don’t have to wait at the store and doubling the number of on-site fitters from six to 12. If you’re not in the market for a bra, consider purchasing some Hanky-Panky thongs, usually $18 to $22, $13 during the sidewalk sale. Last year, SOL sold 5,700 pair during the four-day sale.
Ten Thousand Villages, 2626 E. Third Ave., 303-316-8773, www.tenthousandvillages.com
It’s true that Ten Thousand Villages is part of a chain, of sorts, so it doesn’t quite qualify as an independently owned local business. But it’s part of a nonprofit fair trade organization devoted to helping artisans in developing countries. So be sure to stop by during the sidewalk sale, when selected items from the store’s wonderfully varied handmade inventory will be marked down by 25 percent to 75 percent.
|
