Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters has signed on as the first retail tenant at Clayworks, the mixed-use redevelopment reshaping the historic CoorsTek campus in downtown Golden. Sweet Bloom will occupy the SW corner ground-floor space within the new CoorsTek building at 800 Ford Street, putting an active retail use at the base of the district's anchor.
Clayworks is led by AC Development, the real estate arm of the Coors family, and represents a long-term reinvestment in Golden's urban core. The master plan envisions nearly 1 million square feet of mixed-use development delivered over a 10 to 15 year phased buildout, blending employment, residential, hospitality, and public space into a walkable extension of downtown.
Future phases call for roughly 550 multifamily units, a 150-room hotel and conference center, additional office space, and ground-floor retail and restaurant space to activate the streetscape.
The project broke ground in May 2024, and Building B3, which will house anchor tenant CoorsTek, topped out in May 2025. Holder Construction is the general contractor, with Tryba Architects leading design.
For Sweet Bloom, the decision to anchor the district's retail came down to alignment. "This project stood out to us because of its community-focused approach and the opportunity to be part of a project that has a long standing reputation of serving Golden," said Eric Yochim, Owner of Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters. "Their vision values Golden's history and focuses on a long-term, sustainable future. This really aligns with the way we want to serve our community, so it was an easy yes."
The office floors above the retail base anchor the building's employment program. CoorsTek will occupy the third and fourth floors, establishing the manufacturer's headquarters presence at the center of the district it has long been tied to. AC Development is building out a unit on the second floor for its own use, while space across the remainder of the first and second floors remains available.
The partnership has been years in the making. "We've been a part of this conversation with the whole team behind the Clayworks development for more than four years," Yochim said. "They expressed great support for Sweet Bloom from early on, and their commitment to creating a vibrant addition to the downtown Golden area was really exciting. The symbiotic relationship we've developed I believe will bring real value to the community."
Sustainability sits at the foundation of the district, with plans calling for geothermal energy systems, LEED-certified buildings, walkable streetscapes, and public gathering areas. The redevelopment also preserves elements of the site's history, which dates to the late 1800s, folding Golden's industrial legacy into the district's future identity. A neighborhood coffee operator on the ground floor fits that community-oriented framing, giving the first phase a daily-use anchor alongside the office space.
For Yochim, that daily role is the point. "Generous hospitality is one of our key focuses in our cafes," he said. "With this as the driving value, we love the opportunity to be a part of and create thoughtful moments in the everyday lives of our guests. This creates a sense of belonging for both our guests and our team members, and long-lasting impacts in our communities."
As the first retail tenant committed to Clayworks, Sweet Bloom sets the early tone for one of the most significant urban infill projects in Golden's history, a development that pairs legacy ownership with a generational vision for downtown. While the coffee roaster marks the project's first major milestone, the broader transformation is still in its early stages, with years of development ahead, including the planned hotel and conference center and the continued integration of the site's historic structures.
Keep track of updates at Claywork at our Major Project Portal here.