Amanda’s Bridal and Tux opened in Arvada in 1991 as a humble bridal shop. Now a bridal boutique, Amanda’s is one of the most well-known destinations in Colorado for wedding gowns. Along with full bridesmaid selections and tuxes, Amanda’s is one of the only one-stop shops in all of Colorado to facilitate the whole process in one place with your own stylist.

Ahead of Amanda’s 30th Anniversary Celebration on July 11th, we talked to owners Calli and David Finnie about designing a unique bridal experience, fostering a collaborative team culture, and wedding trends in a post-pandemic Arvada.

LUKI Brewery opened in the summer of 2020 as Arvada’s eighth taproom. In a city and state with no shortage of excellent beer options, LUKI’s unique drinking experience goes beyond the colorful, circus-themed aesthetic. The brewery promotes “Entertainment, Wonder, Community, and Astounding Beer for One and All.” We talked to owner Jeffery Smith about accomplishing those high-flying feats and what the ringmaster has planned for the marquee in year two.

The Springwood Retirement Campus opened in 1987 with independent living apartments, before expanding to assisted living suites, cottages and a memory care center across a 15-acre community. When the locally-owned retirement community started, Arvada didn’t have too many assisted living facilities like it. With 284 units and over 300 residents, the same can still be said today.

We talked to Springwood’s Executive Director, Pat Gallinger, and Marketing Director, Jill Ross, about curating a space to belong, innovating through a pandemic, and some favorite memories in the community’s 33 years.

At Lane Academy, Matt Lane offers yoga classes, Tai Chi classes and Taekwondo martial art classes for three-year-olds all the way to seniors. We talked to Matt about shaping his passion into a business and how he gave his school a fighting chance to survive opening at the start of a pandemic.

Namiko’s Sushi and Japanese Restaurant opened in 1988, nearly 33 years ago, in Arvada. The founder, Yuri Chandonnet, worked for multiple restaurants in Japan before moving to the United States and deciding to start a business she could leave to her daughter. Yuri gathered money from her friends, borrowed money from her mother, and started Namiko’s in a 1,500 square foot space.

We talked to owner Namiko Eshima about her mother’s legacy, navigating a challenging business year, and how the restaurant became a beloved staple of the Arvada community.

We talked to Dariya Arman-Mann about what makes her practice unique, surprising factors of skin health, and the challenges of working with people’s faces during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Arvada Soccer Association (Real Colorado EDGE Soccer Club) has been a pivotal part of the Arvada community since 1969, serving boys and girls from ages four through adulthood.  Annually, the club has 2,500 registered players playing at various levels, from Recreational to Competitive to a TOPSoccer program for kids with special needs. The Arvada Soccer Association is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization.

We talked to the Arvada Soccer Association’s General Manager, Todd Gette, about the origins of the soccer club, the impact of COVID-19, and celebrating 50 years in Arvada.

This summer, entrepreneur Scott Spears quietly celebrated ten years of unique, family-friendly stores in Olde Town Arvada. We talked to Spears about the origins of his two retail shops, Sock and Super Zoom Bang Bang, and the challenges of running five small businesses in 2020.

Paws ‘n’ Play is a unique,...

If you’d like to know about the extensive, international journey that goes into making your first cup of coffee in the morning, just ask the good people at Red Silo Coffee Roasters. Owners and long-time business partners Shelley Flood and Greg Pierce strive to source the best quality beans from around the world, often directly from the farmer. To find the best taste, they will often cup 100 samples before making a full order. “It’s a lot of trial and error,” laughs Shelley. “We drink a lot of coffee.” We talked to Shelley and Greg about sourcing coffee, educating customers, what they’ve learned a year into business in Arvada, and what’s next for Red Silo.

Meet The Foot Squad! These three Arvada Chamber members specialize in foot health and have recently connected to find ways to grow their businesses together.

Michael Juergens grew up in Arvada and his calling to give back to this community is more than a passing feeling. “I 100% believe in it,” he says. Juergens is an employee benefits consultant for CIA Leavitt Group, a full-service insurance agency. He says the firm is forward-thinking on solutions that benefit everyone and he has taken the same approach as an advocate for helping Arvadans become more informed and empowered when it comes to their healthcare.

President and founder Michael Mastous started Delta Restoration Services in 2006 after 30 years in the restoration industry and launched its national franchise model soon after. Currently, at 40 locations across the nation, Delta is projected to grow to 250 after its acquisition by the company Michael worked for 30 years ago, straight out of college. “Don’t burn bridges in my advice,” he says with a laugh. Delta’s serious growth is the result of great community involvement and a dedication to efficiency and education.

Pastor Jeremy Belter has only been in Arvada for a year, but he already counts many neighbors. In August of 2018, he moved to Colorado from Dallas, Texas to start the second campus of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Westminster. Jeremy, a pastor for 11 years, jumped right in to build connections within the Arvada community to establish programs and a congregation. A year in the making, Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church Candelas will hold its long-awaited launch service on October 6 at 9:00 AM.  

For over a decade, Kent McCurdy (Owner & Director of Coaching) has watched his CrossFit gym and training facility grow in Arvada. This month, his facility formerly known as FAST, Fitness & Sports Training rebranded to Brute Force Training Facility.  Located near Olde Town Arvada, Brute Force offers training for all ability levels, including CrossFit athletes, weekend warriors, fitness beginners, and busy professionals.

In 2004, Dr. Sarah Mann (PT, DPT, MBA, NSCA-CPT) was working as a personal trainer in the Denver Tech Center when a family asked if she could work with their son, a 40-year-old with Down syndrome. Through a shared love of Arnold Schwarzenegger and the golden age of bodybuilding, Dr. Mann quickly found that this was her favorite client to work with. Soon after, she went back to get her doctorate in physical therapy (PT) and started a clinic with an all-star team to provide pediatric and orthopedic PT plus occupational therapy (OT) for teenagers and adults with Down syndrome. In 2015, a connection with Jack’s and Steamers led Dr. Mann to move Mann Method PT and Fitness to The Village of Five Parks in northwest Arvada. “This was such an amazing, natural fit because people with developmental disabilities are embraced and accepted in this community,” said Dr. Mann.

Mike Solis recently celebrated 10 years owning Arvada German Garage and 35 years working in the automotive business. It’s a career that’s taken Mike from automotive school to a crew member for Michael Andretti’s IndyCar team. He then grew his garage of one into a team of ten that has earned a glowing reputation in Arvada—and beyond.

Before Jack and Athan Miller got into the restaurant business, he was an Olympic skier and she worked with the developmentally disabled as a social worker. Now, for over a decade, the Millers have operated Jack’s Bar and Grill & Steamers Coffeehouse with the mission of hiring and training special needs individuals. Located in the Village at Five Parks, the restaurant has expanded numerous times, including a 1,300-square-foot commercial prep kitchen across the street. This growth and introduction of new training programs has allowed the business to employ over 90 individuals with developmental disabilities at one time. Learn how Athan and Jack serve up delicious, fresh ways to change lives in Arvada and influence inclusive employment opportunities across the country.

Best On The Block Salsa first became popular in classrooms. A teacher in Jefferson County for 24 years, John Johnson officially launched his salsa company in Arvada in 2016.