If you’ve driven down Havana Street in Aurora lately, you know the vibe. It’s busy. Like, really busy. While mall culture across the U.S. is basically on life support, The Gardens on Havana seems to have missed the memo about the retail apocalypse. It’s an open-air redevelopment of the old Buckingham Square Mall, and honestly, it’s a masterclass in how to build a shopping center that people actually want to visit in 2026.
It’s not perfect. The parking can be a nightmare on Saturdays. But it works.
Most people just think of it as "that place with the Target and the Chick-fil-A," but there’s a lot more going on under the hood. From its weird history as a struggling indoor mall to its current status as a tax-revenue powerhouse for the City of Aurora, the Gardens on Havana represents a massive shift in how we use urban space. It’s about 500,000 square feet of retail, and it’s almost always at full occupancy. That’s rare.
What Most People Get Wrong About The Gardens on Havana
A lot of folks assume this was just a quick facelift of the old mall. It wasn't. They tore the whole thing down.
Buckingham Square Mall was this classic, cavernous 1970s relic that eventually became a ghost town. When Miller Weingarten Realty and the City of Aurora stepped in, they didn't try to "save" the mall. They killed it. They realized that people didn't want to walk through dark corridors anymore; they wanted to drive up to a storefront, grab their stuff, and maybe sit outside for a minute if the Colorado weather wasn't being too chaotic.
The "Gardens" part of the name isn't just marketing fluff. There’s a legitimate effort at landscaping that includes public art and pocket parks. You’ll see the "Art 2C" program pieces scattered around, which is a rotating sculpture exhibit. It's a weird contrast—huge corporate giants like Kohl's and Dick's Sporting Goods sitting right next to a contemporary steel sculpture. But it prevents the place from feeling like a sterile concrete slab.
The Tenant Mix That Keeps the Lights On
Why does this place survive when other centers fail? It’s the "daily needs" factor.
You’ve got Target, Sprouts Farmers Market, and Safeway. Those are the anchors. People have to eat. They have to buy toilet paper. By clustering grocery stores with "fun" shopping like Ulta Beauty or Ross, the developers created a loop. You go for the milk, you stay for the $15 candle you didn't need.
- Grocery dominance: Having both a high-end/natural option (Sprouts) and a traditional option (Safeway) captures two different demographics in one parking lot.
- The Food Scene: It’s not just fast food, though the Chick-fil-A line usually snakes out into the street. You have Freddy’s Frozen Custard, Applebee’s, and Noodle & Co.
- Service Retail: This is the secret sauce. Places like KeyBank, Xfinity, and various nail salons ensure that even if someone isn't "shopping," they have a reason to be there.
The business model here is basically "convenience over everything." In the industry, we call this a "power center." But because of the walkable paths and the weirdly charming rose gardens (yes, there are actual gardens), it feels slightly less soul-crushing than a standard strip mall.
The Economic Impact on Aurora
The City of Aurora didn't just let this happen for fun. They used an Urban Renewal Area (URA) designation.
Basically, the city helped fund the infrastructure because the old mall was a "blight." Today, the Gardens on Havana is one of the top sales tax producers in the entire city. When you buy a pair of shoes at Dick's, a portion of that tax goes directly into Aurora’s General Fund to pay for cops, firefighters, and road repairs.
It’s a symbiotic relationship. The businesses get a high-traffic location—Havana Street and Mississippi Avenue is one of the busiest intersections in the metro area—and the city gets a stable tax base.
However, there are challenges. Traffic management is the big one. If you’ve ever tried to turn left out of the Sprouts parking lot during rush hour, you’ve probably reconsidered all your life choices. The infrastructure is straining under the volume of cars, and that’s something the Havana Business Improvement District (BID) is constantly trying to tweak.
The Art and the "Experience" Factor
Let’s talk about the BID for a second. The Havana Business Improvement District is led by folks who actually care about the corridor. They organize events like the "Cruzin’ Havana" car show (though that usually spans the whole street) and various trick-or-treat events for kids.
They also manage the art.
The sculpture program isn't just for show; it's a strategic move to keep the property value high. When a shopping center looks cared for, people feel safer. When they feel safer, they stay longer. When they stay longer, they spend more. It’s a simple formula, but it’s surprisingly hard to execute.
The Gardens on Havana also sits within a very diverse neighborhood. Aurora is one of the most diverse cities in Colorado, and you see that reflected in the people walking around. It’s a genuine community hub, not just a place for suburbanites to drop $200 and leave.
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Is It Future-Proof?
Nothing is truly future-proof in retail. But the Gardens on Havana is better positioned than most.
The rise of "BOPIS" (Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store) has actually helped this center. Because it's an open-air layout, it's incredibly easy for stores like Target and Kohl's to dedicate parking spots to curbside pickup. You can’t really do that at a traditional indoor mall without making people walk a mile to a central kiosk.
Also, the diversity of the "On Havana Street" corridor helps. While the Gardens is the shiny, corporate heart, the surrounding mile is filled with incredible Korean BBQ spots, Ethiopian cafes, and specialized auto shops. It creates a "destination" effect. You might go to the Gardens for a new toaster, but then you drive half a mile down the road for the best dim sum in the state.
Actionable Insights for Visitors and Businesses
If you're heading there, or looking to do business in the area, keep these realities in mind:
- Timing is everything. If you want to avoid the crowds, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings are the sweet spot. Avoid the lunch rush (11:30 AM - 1:30 PM) unless you enjoy sitting in your car watching people cross the street.
- Use the "Back" Entrances. Most people try to enter from Havana Street. Don't do that. Use the entrances off Mississippi Avenue or even Moline Street to get into the Target area. It'll save you ten minutes of idling.
- Check the Events Calendar. The Havana BID website is actually updated regularly. They do "Business After Hours" events and various pop-ups. If you’re a local business owner, getting involved with the BID is non-negotiable for networking.
- Look at the Art. Seriously. Take five minutes to walk the perimeter. Some of the sculptures are world-class, and it’s a nice break from the fluorescent lights of the big-box stores.
- Support the Perimeter. While the big stores are great, remember that the small kiosks and the smaller storefronts in the outparcels often struggle more with rent. They provide the character that keeps the center from feeling like a carbon copy of every other mall in America.
The Gardens on Havana isn't a "hidden gem"—everyone knows where it is. But it is a rare example of a suburban redevelopment done right. It moved away from the "everything under one roof" model just in time to catch the wave of consumers who value efficiency, fresh air, and a bit of greenery with their errands.