This is the time of year we stop and count our blessings: family, friends, faith and a town we’re proud to call home. This year, let’s add a few more names to that list. Parker’s local business owners are the people who learn our names, hire our kids for their first jobs and pour themselves into businesses built right here.
By Steve Clark
Our town is growing fast, with new homes, restaurants and shops popping up everywhere. But growth alone isn’t what makes Parker feel like home. The people behind the counter do. When you shop local, you’re supporting a neighbor’s dream, keeping more of every dollar in our community, and helping Parker keep the character we all love.
Here are just a few of the local businesses we’re thankful for this season.
We’re grateful for The Local, where owner Jason Williams set out to build a store that could serve both a visitor hunting for a Colorado souvenir and a neighbor looking for something made close to home. Its shelves are stocked by Colorado artisans, farmers and makers, so nearly every purchase supports another local family.
19565 E. Mainstreet
We’re thankful for new beginnings, too. Goods & Grace has only recently opened its doors. Founder Janet McCracken built her shop of elevated decor and gifts around people she knows personally. Every vendor has a story, and she’s happy to tell it. Her shop, she says, is for Parker.
17002 E. Mainstreet, Suite L
Nest on Mainstreet has become a go-to for home decor, gifts and clothing, with a focus on women-owned and Colorado-grown brands. It’s the kind of place you stop in for a birthday card and leave with ideas for your whole living room.
19560 E. Mainstreet
We’re grateful for staying power, like that of Parker Panache. Brenda Zdanowicz has been dressing Parker women for more than two decades, proof that a small shop with a loyal following can outlast every passing trend.
19561 E. Mainstreet
39 North offers a mix of fashion, home goods and unique gifts, with an emphasis on quality, locally sourced products. It’s a reminder that some of Parker’s best shopping happens well beyond downtown.
10685 S. Parker Road
And we’re thankful for a little Western flair. Cinderella Ranch Boutique pairs contemporary fashion with a rustic twist, a style that fits a town with ranching roots and a modern pace.
10970 S. Parker Road
Six shops, six owners, six stories. And there are hundreds more across Parker waiting to be told.
Ways to Say Thanks to Local Businesses
The best way to thank these neighbors is simple: shop with them this season. Before you click “add to cart,” visit a local shop, and tell the owner you’re glad they’re here. It may be the most meaningful thank-you they hear all year.
- Shop in person. Stop by, browse and say hello to the owner.
- Buy gift cards. They make easy holiday gifts and bring new customers through the door.
- Leave a review. A few kind words on Google go a long way for a small business.
- Follow and share. Like their social media posts and share them with friends.
- Spread the word. Tell a neighbor about the shop you love.
Our way of saying thank you
At Search Parker, we do more than list these businesses. We want to tell their stories. That’s why we’ve started rebuilding searchparker.com into a true community resource that makes local businesses easy to find and puts their owners front and center. In the coming months, we’ll be sitting down with local business owners to share their stories in their own words. You’ll also see a growing local business directory and a searchable library of every story we’ve published.
We’d love your help. Who’s the business owner you’re most thankful for? The barber who remembers your kids’ names, or the café that sponsors your Little League team? Send your nominations to contribute@searchparker.com. Their story might be next.
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