New Hispanic-centric shopping center opens in Aurora
107 new businesses opened at the old Super K on East Colfax Avenue, with dozens more on the way.
AURORA, Colo. — La Plaza Colorado is open, bringing culture and entrepreneurship to Aurora.
Located on East Colfax Avenue, the shopping center is home to 107 businesses, mostly Hispanic-owned. Vendors sell clothing, shoes, trading cards, jewelry, candy, and accessories. La Plaza Colorado also offers tax services and has hair and nail studios.
“Our most economic option is $400 for an 8-by-10 space, and it provides these businesses to start up at a very low cost,” said Isabel McMurrain, the manager at La Plaza Colorado.
“For me, it is new,” said Graciela Soles, the owner of El Patrol Western Wear.
Graciela Soles used to own an ice cream shop, but this business is different.
“It’s going well for us,” Soles said.
“Very cool, very pretty,” said Abel Gomez, a barber from Tony’s Barbershop and Salon.
Gomez said the new Hispanic marketplace has been buzzing this week.
“Thanks to God, there are a lot of people coming here, many clients, a lot of people,” Gomez said.
“At the end of the day, this isn’t our market, it’s theirs,” McMurrain said.
McMurrain said customers can find a wide variety of things when they come to La Plaza.
“The entrepreneurial spirit that is here is immense,” McMurrain said. “Aurora is an economic powerhouse and I feel like La Plaza is a testament to that.”
It’s also opening the door for new jobs.
“The amount of job applications from new migrants coming in is incredible,” McMurrain said.
La Plaza Colorado has been a long time coming, after its owner, Doug McMurrain, bought the old Super K in 2017.
“The shipping containers that you see right now, the ground level, we will have 24 food hall kitchens,” Doug McMurrain said.
Doug McMurrain doubles as ‘dad’ for the shopping center’s manager, Isabel McMurrain. She said she loves working with her father.
“La Plaza Colorado is about family,” Doug McMurrain said. “One of the reasons that we love and we work so hard is the Hispanic culture loves their family. They love their music, they love their food, and they want nothing but something better for the next generation.”
While lifting up the next generation, these new entrepreneurs are also lifting up one another.
“This is someplace where everyone can be, like my people. It’s more beautiful to work [together] with our Hispanic community,” Soles said.
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