Oh Hey Creative's Bryant Palmer
Our series CULTURED features taste-makers who are shaping the cultural and social landscape of the city. In this issue, Editor in Chief ESTHER LEE LEACH interviews the founder of Oh Hey Creative and the Chief Storyteller for Stanley Marketplace Bryant Palmer.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY ESTHER LEE LEACH // LOCATION: STANLEY MARKETPLACE
Esther Lee Leach: Bryant, I am so excited to learn more about what you do and how you landed in Denver! You are now the Chief Storyteller for Stanley Marketplace and the Founder of Oh Hey Creative but before this, you worked in education in New York. Tell us more about your career history and how you found your way to Denver.
Bryant Palmer: Thank you, Esther! Happy to. I moved to Denver in August 2015 to help an old friend turn an abandoned aviation factory into Stanley Marketplace. I wasn't planning on leaving education and I figured I'd live in Manhattan for the rest of my life, but Stanley was such an exciting opportunity that I couldn't say no to it. And it wasn't as drastic a transition as it may sound. I used to be a teacher, then an administrator, and my last couple of years in New York I worked in the development office of the school where I'd started my career, helping tell stories and raise money for the school, basically marketing and communications. That's my main role at Stanley, figuring out ways to tell our stories so people are inspired to spend time there, and now I do that for other projects and businesses, too.
ELL: You major in English and Communications at Vanderbilt University and then went on to get your MFA in Writing at Columbia! Why did you choose to become a teacher first before moving into the communications world?
BP: Good question. At the end of college, I figured I'd either study writing at Columbia or do Teach for America. Those were the two things I loved the most -- writing and working with young people. So becoming a teacher after grad school made sense even if it wasn't part of a grand plan. I was hired to teach writing to fifth-graders at a little independent school on the Upper West Side, and then I became an English teacher, and every couple of years I'd take on a new role at the same school. I loved it, especially the mentorship part, trying to be a good role model for young people, trying to teach them how to be in the world. One of the great joys in my life today is seeing my former students thrive as adults. I keep in touch with a lot of my kiddos, and that's very special to me. I could've continued working in education for a lot longer, but I've always been interested in a bunch of different things, and I've always loved a challenge, so when Stanley came along I had to say yes.
ELL: Your first major project in Denver, Stanley Marketplace, has made such a cultural impact on the city. Apart from your awesome marketing campaign, why do you think Stanley has resonated with so many people?
BP: Thank you! Stanley's been an amazing project to be a part of. We had big ambitions from the start, but it wasn't a guarantee. A lot of people figured it wouldn't work. But we set out to build a gathering place more than a food hall or a shopping center. We asked ourselves -- What's going to make people come back here again and again? How do we build a place that's a part of people's lives? We put our vision together in a document we call the Stanifesto, and that helps drive a lot of what we do. Stanley's a fun place to eat and shop, but it's more than that -- it's a place that celebrates art and culture, that's always hosting events that bring people together for something special, whether that's a puppy adoption party or an immersive theater musical. This winter we're teaming up with Denver Center for the Performing Arts and artist Lonnie Hanzon to produce Camp Christmas, a massive immersive spectacular that we think will be huge. Partnerships like that are a big part of my role, and also very fulfilling. Seeing thousands and thousands of people visit Stanley every day feels incredible. I think our closest neighbors in northwest Aurora and Stapleton wanted and needed a local hangout, for sure, and we try to make Stanley feel like a local hangout for people from all over the place, no matter where they live.
ELL: One of the newer projects that you are involved with is Broadway Market. Tell us more about this food hall and your role in the project.
BP: Sure. Broadway Market is on north Broadway between 9th and 10th, and my company Oh Hey Creative handles marketing and communications for that project. Like for Stanley, we tell stories that hopefully inspire people to spend time there, and we work on partnerships to bring people there, too. Broadway's a lot smaller than Stanley, and it's in a different neighborhood, but it's got some of the same bones: a group of local chefs doing interesting things, a central gathering place that we want to be a part of people's lives. It's a really beautiful space, a great place to work during the day and eat and hang out just about any time.
ELL: In addition to Stanley and Broadway, your company Oh Hey Creative also represents some smaller businesses including a new bakery concept expanding to Denver! Can you share more details about that project and other clients that you represent?
BP: We do! When I first moved to Colorado I worked on Stanley around the clock. But after we finally opened, some opportunities arose to work on other projects, and Oh Hey Creative grew out of that. We're mostly focused on marketing and communications, but we do a bunch of different things for people and businesses, mainly food hall-like projects but not exclusively. We're on the team opening a new food hall in Golden called the Golden Mill, and we're helping open Malcolm Yards Market in Minneapolis. And we work with a few small businesses, too. Third Culture Bakery is one of those. It's an incredible mochi-based bakery out of Berkeley, California, that's opening their first Colorado location this January, on East Colfax about one mile from Stanley. They're wonderful people and their treats and drinks are delicious, a great combination. I think Colorado's going to love what they do.
ELL: There has been an explosion of food halls in Denver in the last few years and more are planned. Is there still room for growth in that industry or have we reached food hall saturation? I am waiting for someone to open a mini food hall in Cherry Creek!
BP: This is a great question! I don't think food halls are slowing down any time soon, but we're starting to see new ones open up further away from downtown, in smaller cities and suburban locations. I think we'll see them get smaller, too. Broadway Market's about 15,000 square feet, but we're going to start seeing really compact food hall projects in just five or six thousand square feet. Cherry Creek would be a great spot for the right concept! Density is super important because you need a lot of foot traffic to sustain multiple businesses in one location. Let me know if you hear of a great building with first-floor space!
ELL: In addition to your role at Stanley and Oh Hey Creative, you are also on the board of CultureHaus at the Denver Art Museum. Tell us more about CultureHaus and how it contributes to the art scene in the city.
BP: I'm so glad you asked this! My first friend in Denver made me join CultureHaus as soon as I moved here, and I'm so glad she did. It's one of the ways I built a friend group here. CultureHaus hosts art-focused events in and outside of the Denver Art Museum, like sneak peek tours of new exhibitions, a brunch where you learn about art collecting, visits to an artist's studio. I was happy to join the board a few years ago to help support CultureHaus's mission to foster the next generation of arts supporters. We showcase Colorado artists in a bunch of ways, and we throw some fantastic parties to help raise money for the museum. This year we helped the museum buy a Jordan Casteel painting, which was such an honor and a privilege, to be able to help the Denver Art Museum procure this incredible piece that will live in its collection forever. Be sure to put "The Art of Monet: An Evening in the Garden" on January 25 in your calendar. That's our annual signature event, inside the new Monet exhibition, and it's going to be so much fun.
ELL: Let's talk fashion! You lived in New York for over 20 years before moving to Denver. Did you have to make any major changes to your wardrobe and style after moving here?
BP: Oh, sure. I definitely dress a little more casually here than I did in New York. I wear fewer ties and my shirt's untucked more than it used to be. I wear sneakers more often here, too. Right now I'm obsessed with Nike Air Tailwinds. I'm maybe one more pair away from an intervention. But overall I'd say my style's pretty similar, a little preppy, not too serious. I love tweed blazers and hefty sweaters and just about all my clothes are navy. I tend toward a uniform on most days -- dark jeans with a light blue Oxford button-down, often with a sweater or a blazer. I tend to find one thing I love and then get a bunch of those -- like the Oxford shirts and the Tailwind sneakers.
Bryant Palmer: @bbp3
Oh Hey Creative: @ohheycreative
Stanley Marketplace: @ohheystanley
Photography: @estherleeleach
Cherry Creek Fashion TV’s My Style Guide with Bryant Palmer