UPDATED March 15 at 4:35 p.m. to include Marigold’s official open date.
On a recent January day, the owners of a new bar called The Marigold were busy setting up potted ferns and leafy monsteras throughout the 2,500-square-foot space, formerly home to Five Points Market. Their placements may be temporary, however, because these plants aren’t just for decor — they’re also for sale.
While the concept of sipping while shopping is not new, co-owner Genevieve Shifrin said the function of The Marigold extends beyond retail sales. She hopes the bar — which opens March 17 after more than a year of permit and construction delays — will serve as a scenic oasis that locals can enjoy without having to drive to the mountains.
“We wanted to show people that you can exist with nature in an urban setting,” said Shifrin. “We live in Colorado because we all love nature, and I think it’s true right now that people need to start making these moves toward coexisting with this nature.”
The Marigold is located at 2721 Welton St. in Denver, in the space formerly Five points Market. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
The Marigold is part gin bar cocktail bar, part retail plant store. The business is sourcing its flora from Calabrese Greenhouse in Arvada. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Any plant on display at The Marigold, a new bar in Denver, is available for purchase. Just add it to your tab before closing out. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
The Marigold is part gin bar cocktail bar, part retail plant store. The business is sourcing its flora from Calabrese Greenhouse in Arvada. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
The Marigold is expected to open in mid-February after more than a year of permit and construction delays. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Co-owners from top left clockwise are Michael Reilly, Savanna Phibbs, Genevieve Shifrin, Sudy Kudva, Colin Hankins, Spencer Foreman and Johnny Mayer at Marigold in Denver on Thursday, January 26, 2023. The Marigold is a plant store and bar in the Five Points neighborhood. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Genevieve Shifrin, co-owner of The Marigold, said she hopes the new bar will serve as a scenic oasis that locals can enjoy without having to drive to the mountains. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Any plant on display at The Marigold, a new bar in Denver, is available for purchase. Just add it to your tab before closing out. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
In addition to cocktails and plants, owners of The Marigold hope to partner with local businesses to bring yoga, terrarium-building and sip-and-paint classes to the venue. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
The floral ethos of The Marigold extends to the drink menu, which will prominently feature gin cocktails and gin flights. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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It’s a bit of trend in Denver, and its why, in addition to decking out the interior with houseplants, future plans at The Marigold call for building a Japanese-style garden, complete with a koi pond, out back. The Marigold also boasts a rooftop patio overlooking Welton Street, so patrons have ample opportunities to get some fresh air.
The floral ethos extends to the drink program, which will prominently feature gin cocktails. Sudy Kudva, who is one of eight partners alongside Shifrin involved in The Marigold, sees gin underrepresented on menus throughout the Mile High City.
Kudva’s team owns other bars, including The Squire Lounge, The Matchbox, 715 Club, and Gold Point, and is also opening a new beer and shot bar next door to the latter in Five Points in the next coming months.
“We don’t want to pigeonhole us as a gin bar, but we do want to have different gin flights and different types of gin because — a lot like whiskey — there’s a wide swath of flavor profiles,” Kubva said. “You can go floral, super juniper-y, or very clean, and we want to be able to get people interested in gin.”
While The Marigold won’t serve food, save for a couple of snacky bites, the owners hope to partner with nearby restaurants to help serve hungry patrons. Shifrin and Kubva also plan to collaborate with local businesses to bring yoga, terrarium-building and sip-and-paint classes to the venue. They also promised live jazz music on select nights.
Marigold is located at 2721 Welton St., Denver. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., and Saturday through Sunday from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. More information on Marigold Denver’s Instagram page.
