Denver’s 16th Street Mall May Get a New Name

The 16th Street Mall in Denver has been around for decades; keeping it around for decades to come may necessitate it upgrading its name.

Will Denver's 16th Street Mall Upgrade Include a Brand New Name?

Over a mile long, with over 200 shops/restaurants in the heart of Downtown Denver, the 16th Street Mall is going through major renovations that should wrap up by the summer of 2025. AXIOS Denver reports that the finishing touch may indeed be a name change for the are.

I remember when the 16th Street Mall first opened in 1982, being in my teens at the time, I didn't know much about what was going on down there before, but this new destination sounded great; and it was. 40 years have taken their toll on the mall, though.

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In 2021, the Denver City Council approved spending $150 million to upgrade 16th Street Mall. When complete, the mall will be more open, brighter, safer, and draw more visitors to the area.

Will Denver's 16th Street Mall Keep Its Name?

When you think about it, in 1982 the word "Mall" was hip; decades later, not many shopping/entertainment areas use the term. I think about destinations like Memphis with its Beale Street, Nashville's Broadway, Austin's Sixth Street.

All have shopping and entertainment, none of them call themselves a mall.

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According to AXIOS Denver, the city has brought on a "global marketing powerhouse" to help re-brand the 16th Street Mall; will they suggest just dropping "mall" altogether?

I can see how it does make it sound more appealing: "Let's hit 16th Street this weekend;" sounds refreshing over "Let's hit the 16th Street Mall this weekend."

Who knows, they may drop a huge bombshell and completely rename it to something like, "The Mile High Shops."