top of page

Project Spotlight: DEN Airport Marketplace Brings Local Flavor to Concourse C

  • Writer: mbharch
    mbharch
  • Jun 11
  • 3 min read
Modern airport lounge with a bar, bright seating, and people. A sign reads "Denver's Favorite." Large windows illuminate the scene.
All Photos: Ian Warren Photography

Project Overview 

Name: Marketplace C-East 

Location: Denver International Airport, Concourse C 

Client: Mission Yogurt 

Vendors: ChoLon, Teatulia, Marczyk Fine Foods 

MBH Role: Full Design Services, Environmental Graphic Design (EGD) 

Total Area: 13,134 SF 

Completion: First phase (Teatulia & Marczyk) – December 2024; ChoLon – February 2025  


Modern market with a coffee and snack bar. Teatulia ad on wall, light wood panels, and tiled decor. People walking, indicating busy ambiance.

Denver International Airport’s Concourse C has a new destination—not a gate, but a gathering place. Marketplace C-East, designed by MBH Architects for Mission Yogurt, brings together three of Denver’s most respected culinary brands in a warm, dynamic space tailored for the airport traveler. 

This 13,134-square-foot development marks MBH’s first project at DEN. From concept through closeout, the MBH Denver studio partnered closely with the firm’s Environmental Graphic Design (EGD) team to create an integrated experience where space, story, and brand intersect seamlessly. 


Modern cafe with "Teatulia" sign, blue and wood decor, menu boards, and hanging lights. Bright, airy setting with large windows.

Teatulia: A Calm, Conscious Cup 


Teatulia’s new brick-and-mortar location brings the company’s ethically sourced, handpicked teas and award-winning sustainability practices to a global audience. MBH’s design concept reflects the brand’s origins in regenerative agriculture and wellness, delivering a space that invites travelers to slow down and enjoy a curated sensory experience. 


Working within Teatulia’s design standards, MBH used warm, natural materials and sophisticated detailing to achieve a sense of calm and elegance. Bold features—like statement lighting and wood accents—anchor the space, while the unified palette creates cohesion across the marketplace. The resulting design speaks to Teatulia’s mission-driven identity while standing out in the high-traffic concourse setting. 


Restaurant entrance with "ChoLon" sign. Two people interact at the counter. Mural on left wall; golden dragon decor on right. Bright, modern setting.

ChoLon: Tradition Meets Spectacle 


ChoLon, a beloved local concept from Chef Lon Symensma, draws its name from the largest Chinese-influenced market in Saigon. At DEN, ChoLon brings its bold, Asian-inspired cuisine to a new setting—with a graphic design experience to match. 


Modern restaurant interior with high ceilings, red and gold decor. Chandeliers hang above; a bartender works near a "PICK UP" sign.

MBH’s EGD team translated Mission Yogurt’s vision into a series of custom-designed red dragon graphics that wrap three column heights in the space and illuminated monument sign facing the concourse.  Printed on shimmering metallic gold vinyl, the dragons curve skyward through clouds and flames, inviting passengers into the restaurant with drama and cultural reverence. At the entrance, a custom illuminated signage cabinet showcases an inverted dragon motif and cut-metal logo, creating a sculptural gateway into the space. 


Yellow-toned hallway with abstract map mural and illuminated line. Map features marked names like "Sheridan" and "Harrison." Minimalist setting.

Outside the storefront, MBH designed a dimensional topographic map of Colorado along the concourse-facing wall. Acrylic elements highlight Denver’s geography, with color-coded tags showing the original locations of all three vendors. A 3D-printed miniature of the Denver skyline, produced by Mini City, is encased in a protective dome and set aglow with a cantilevered lighting element that tracks along Colfax Avenue—a subtle but powerful nod to local context. 


Marczyk Fine Foods shop in an airport. Display cases with baked goods, signs with text. Bright, modern setting, with customers browsing.

Marczyk Fine Foods: Classic, Local, Essential 

 

A Denver staple known for its curated grocery and deli, Marczyk Fine Foods brings a neighborhood sensibility to the terminal experience. The design follows Marczyk’s established standards, emphasizing simplicity, warmth, and authenticity. 


The storefront balances function and feel, integrating durable materials with classic design elements that communicate quality and familiarity. Like its companions, Marczyk’s space is tailored to honor the individuality of the brand while maintaining a visual connection to the larger marketplace. Travelers are drawn in by thoughtful touches—materials that evoke craft, form, and freshness, without distracting from the rhythm of the terminal. 


Modern airport bar with high stools, illuminated counter, and shelves of bottles. Large blue windows create a sleek, stylish atmosphere.

Unity Through Design: Creating a Cohesive DEN Airport Marketplace Across ChoLon, Teatulia, and Marczyk Fine Foods

The overarching challenge—and achievement—of Marketplace C-East was to create three distinct, memorable vendor spaces that still functioned cohesively as a unified marketplace environment. MBH’s team achieved this by developing a shared language of finishes, forms, and visual rhythms that reinforce both individual identity and collective experience. 


Want to learn more about MBH’s airport retail and hospitality work? 



bottom of page