Construction continues at Stanley Marketplace

Spicing It Up
Savory Spice Shop will bring popular seasonings as well as exotic spices to the Stanley. “We’re all about providing great flavors for foods and helping people eat healthy,” says Jerrod Janakus of Savory Spice Shop. “Our kiosk at the Stanley will represent all our products, even though it’s a small space.”
Savory offers 400 freshly ground herbs and spices, as well as more than 160 handcrafted seasonings. Founded in Denver in 2004, Savory is a network of locally owned shops with 34 stores nationwide, including seven Colorado locations.
“We develop our stores in quaint neighborhoods, ‘hip-stricts’ that are up-and-coming communities,” said Janakus, vice president of marketing with the Savory franchising team. “We opened our first store on Platte St. near Lower Downtown when it was still warehouses. The Stanley is a contemporary new retail model in a re-developing area. It fits with our local neighborhood feel.”
Savory grinds its spices daily in its Denver warehouse. “We grind and blend in small batches, usually five-pound bags, to maintain their freshness,” Janakus said. “You can taste the difference. Cinnamon, for example, begins losing its flavor soon after its ground because the oils start to evaporate. Grocery chains grind spices in huge batches that sit around losing their flavor.”
Customers can taste anything in the store before they buy, Janakus said. “It’s an exploratory, educational process, with our staff available to help. Staff members try out the spices and recipes at home, so they can give advice.”
For more information, see savoryspiceshop.com.

Fashion on a Modest Budget
Velvet Wolf boutique will offer women’s clothing and accessories for shoppers on a budget at Stanley Marketplace. “Everything we carry is under $100,” says owner Molly Hakes. “We never cross that price threshold. At under $100, people can get multiple pieces that go together—it’s guilt-free shopping.”
Hakes opened her first store in the Littleton Main Street shopping district in 2014, following a stint working for a corporation. “I had studied fashion and jewelry design in college but went to work in corporate America,” she says. “I didn’t love it, but I learned about business. I saved up and got back into the fashion industry and it’s been really good right from the beginning.”
Named after Molly’s wolf-hybrid pet, Velvet Wolf carries clothing choices that change weekly. “We bring in new shipments every week to keep our offerings fresh. Most of our vendors are local companies and designers. We also have purses, notebooks, jewelry, and an apothecary line of scented candles and soaps that I make in my own kitchen.”
Hakes chose the Stanley “to be a part of a community of great businesses—I jumped all over the opportunity. Also, I love the history and that they are keeping the original ‘Stanley’ sign out front.”
Her 1,300-square-foot space will have a natural light wood floor and wood dressing rooms for a comfortable feel. “Wearing the right outfit gives us confidence. I want people to leave here with something they love.”
For more information, visit velvetwolf.com or 720.287.2972.
Empanada To-Go Shop
“Every Sunday I made empanadas with my mom,” says Lorena Cantarovici, who grew up in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and now lives in Denver. “Empanadas are part of tradition in Buenos Aires. When you have an event or get-together, an empanada is always there. I was missing that in Denver, so I make them here.”
An empanada is a pastry stuffed with different flavors. “You can put anything you can imagine inside an empanada,” Cantarovici says.
Cantarovici now owns Maria Empanada, named after her mom, which serves empanadas stuffed with meats, vegetables and cheeses, as well as dessert varieties. “My mom was the great creator of new flavors. She inspired me to make new kinds all the time, like vegan veggie, which you’d never see in Argentina.”
Cantarovici came to Denver in 2002, where she and husband, Daniel, have three boys. Her foray into the food business began when her friends kept asking her to make empanadas for parties. “Then calls came from friends of friends and a caterer who wanted bigger orders than I could handle at home.”
She opened her first shop in Lakewood and then moved to 1298 S. Broadway in 2014. She will join Stanley Marketplace in a 370-square-foot to-go kitchen and will serve the same menu as her larger restaurant. “I like the Stanley concept of bringing people together in a community place that is not a shopping mall. Also, I love the history of the Stanley—entering a place with a story attached to it.”
Find more information at mariaempanada.com or 303.934.2221.