Stanley Marketplace Wrapped 2025: A Year of Community, Connection & Celebration

So 2025 just happened, and honestly? We're feeling very emotional about it. 

Because this year, Stanley Marketplace wasn't just a place where people shopped, ate, worked out, created, or played. It was where neighbors became friends, where kids laughed until their cheeks hurt, where local artists found their audience, and where small businesses grew into community staples. 

These weren't just sales or foot traffic stats (though yes, we tracked those like the nerds we are). They were moments. The kind that make you go, "Oh wow, this is actually what community feels like." 

So while we thought it would be fun to share some of these numbers, what we're really celebrating...is YOU. Every single person who walked in, every business owner who showed up with their whole heart, every volunteer who gave their time, every neighbor who generously showed up for one another. 

This is our Stanley Wrapped 2025: a love letter to our community, told through some of the moments that we loved the most. 

BY THE NUMBERS: STANLEY MARKETPLACE 2025

1,085,651 Guests Walked Through Our Doors 
That's more than one million visitors who chose Stanley as their destination for shopping, dining, creating, and connecting in Aurora. Whether you stopped by once or made us part of your weekly routine, you helped make Stanley the vibrant community hub it is today. 

148 Community Events Brought Us Together 
From seasonal celebrations to neighborhood gatherings, art exhibitions to fitness classes, we hosted 148 community events throughout the year. Each one was designed with one goal in mind: bringing people together in meaningful ways. 

623 Local Colorado Artists Showcased Their Talent 
Our First Friday program continued to be a launchpad for Colorado creativity, featuring 623 local artists throughout 2025. These monthly art showcases transformed Stanley into a living gallery, celebrating the incredible talent right here in our community. 

140+ Musicians Performed Live 
Music filled the halls of Stanley all year long, with over 140 live musicians sharing their talents. From acoustic singer-songwriters to full bands, these performances created the perfect backdrop for shopping, dining, and making memories. 

11,966 Photo Booth Strips Captured the Moments 
Nearly 12,000 photo strips were printed at our Stanley photo booth (located on the 2nd floor), preserving spontaneous smiles, silly faces, and candid moments. These strips are now tucked into wallets, stuck on refrigerators, and saved in scrapbooks across Colorado. 

FAMILY EVENTS & CELEBRATIONS AT STANLEY MARKETPLACE THAT BROUGHT MAGIC

Trick or Treating: Our Most Attended Event 
Halloween at Stanley was bigger than ever, claiming the title of most attended event of 2025. Families flooded the marketplace as little superheroes, princesses, and monsters made their rounds. How much candy did we hand out? A whopping 75,000 pieces, ensuring every trick-or-treater went home with a full bucket and an even fuller smile. (Don't worry, it's a good thing we have a dentist on site to help!) 

Camp Christmas Transformed Stanley into a Winter Wonderland 
We decked the halls—literally—with 1.5 miles of garland stretching throughout the marketplace. Camp Christmas, the beloved holiday extravaganza created by local artist Lonnie Hanzon in partnership with DCPA Off-Center, returned bigger and brighter, filling every corner of the marketplace with community spirit, twinkling lights, festive decor, and holiday cheer, the perfect backdrop for family photos and seasonal shopping. 

2,242 Kids Met Santa 
Santa's Village was bustling with excitement as 2,242 children sat on Santa's lap to share their Christmas wishes. Add in the pets who visited Santa during special pet events, and you've got a whole lot of holiday magic captured in photographs and hearts. 

Small Business Saturday: Our BUSIEST Day of the Year 
The community showed up IN FORCE for Small Business Saturday, making it our busiest single day of 2025. THANK YOU for supporting local and proving that when we shop small, we all win big. 

NEW FACES, NEW FLAVORS, NEW FAVORITES 

6 New Businesses joined the Stanley Marketplace Family in 2025:

Bad Peach Cafe - Serving up delicious teas and sandos 
Friends of Friends - An art cafe to unleash your creativity 
Molino Chido - Bringing authentic Mexico City flavors and handmade tortillas to Aurora
Nouveau Home - Elevating your living spaces with style 
Replay Sports Cards - A haven for collectors and sports enthusiasts 
The Local Drive - Where your golf game and your social life both get better (results may vary on the golf part) 

Each of these businesses adds something special to the Stanley experience, and we couldn't be more excited to have them here.  

AWARDS & RECOGNITION: AURORA BUSINESS EXCELLENCE

Nearly 30 Awards from Local Publications + 2 City of Aurora Honors 
In 2025, Stanley Marketplace businesses earned nearly 30 awards from publications such as Colorado Parent, Central Park Scoopies, Westword Best of Denver, and 5280 Top of the Town Awards. We're especially proud that three of our tenants were honored as City of Aurora Business Recognition Award Winners, a distinction celebrating not just economic vitality, but the meaningful support these businesses provide to their employees and the broader Aurora community.

CREATIVE CLASSES & KIDS ACTIVITIES 

149 Creative Classes & Workshops 
From pottery and painting to cooking and crafting, Stanley was a hub for creativity in 2025. Our 149 creative workshops gave community members of all ages the chance to learn new skills, explore artistic expression, and take home something they made with their own hands. 

123 Kids Camps 
School breaks and summer vacation meant one thing: kids camps at Stanley! With 123 camps throughout the year, children had the opportunity to dive into art, STEM, cooking, and more—all while making friends and memories. 

118 Birthday Parties 
Stanley was the backdrop for over 100 birthday celebrations, complete with unique creative activities, laughter, and festivities that made each child feel extra special on their big day. 

WELLNESS & MOVEMENT: FITNESS AT STANLEY

4,015 Fitness Classes Attended 
Our community stayed active with 4,015 fitness class attendances throughout the year, totaling an incredible 206,240 minutes of movement, strength-building, wellness, and coaching. Whether it was kickboxing, pilates, yoga, or Zumba, Stanley was here to support your health goals. 

GIVING BACK: COMMUNITY IMPACT & CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS

At Stanley, community isn't just about what happens within our walls, it's about how we show up for our neighbors and those in need. 

121 Community Groups & Nonprofits Supported 
We partnered with, supported, or donated to 121 community organizations and nonprofits throughout 2025 including DAVA (Downtown Aurora Visual Arts), CADA (Cultural Arts Downtown Aurora), Mile High Youth Theater, (CCA) Community College of Aurora, and DSA (Denver School of Arts), working together to make Aurora and the greater Denver area stronger. 

3,000 Pounds of Food Collected 
Our November “Food Hall Food Drive for Food Banks” resulted in 3,000 pounds of food donated to the Village Exchange Center, helping fight food insecurity right here in Aurora. 

16,000+ Books Donated, Saving Nearly 138 Trees 
Through our Dream Books partnership, the Stanley community collected over 16,000 books in 2025, giving them new life while saving an estimated 138 trees. Your generosity supported literacy and sustainability, proving that small actions create meaningful environmental impact. 

74 Units of Blood Donated 
Our community rolled up their sleeves and donated 74 units of blood through our Vivent Health Blood Drive, potentially saving up to 222 lives. Thank you for showing up when it matters most and making a direct impact on patients in need. 

Giving Tree Program Made the Holidays Brighter 
Our annual Giving Tree supported multiple organizations: 

• Denver Housing Authority 

• Aurora Housing Authority 

• New Legacy Charter School

• Canine Partners of the Rockies 

• Vivent Health

Together, we made the holidays a little brighter for hundreds of families and individuals. 

5,380 Treats Donated to Shelter Dogs 
Through the Share Infinite Love program, we donated 5,380 treats to shelter dogs, spreading joy to our four-legged friends waiting for their forever homes. 

50+ Dogs Adopted Through Stanley Events 
Speaking of forever homes, more than 50 dogs found theirs through adoption events hosted at Stanley in 2025. These adoption events connected loving families with furry companions, creating bonds that will last a lifetime. 

THE LITTLE MOMENTS THAT MADE US SMILE

Some stats can't quite be measured scientifically, but they matter just as much: 

1,075,361 Giggles Heard from the Playground 
Okay, we didn't actually count every giggle, but if we could, this feels about right. The playground was a constant source of joy, with kids running, climbing, sliding, and laughing from dawn till dusk. 

300+ Lost Water Bottles 
If you lost a water bottle at Stanley this year, you're not alone. Over 300 were left behind, proof that our community stays hydrated (even if they're a little forgetful). 

312 OPENair Field Trips 
At OPENair Academy, field trips happen right outside the door. Children from infants to preschoolers explored Stanley Marketplace daily, watching chocolate being made, browsing the bookshop, visiting the creative studios. Every adventure transformed our marketplace into a living classroom where curiosity meets community and learning happens naturally, just steps from where they play. 

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2026

As we close the book on 2025, we're filled with gratitude for every guest, every event, every business, and every moment that made Stanley Marketplace more than just a place, it's a community. 

Thank you for choosing Stanley. Thank you for supporting local. Thank you for showing up, celebrating, creating, and connecting. 

Here's to another year of making memories together. 

From all of us at Stanley Marketplace, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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