Mulberry Jam has opened as a shared downtown Denton spot, bringing matcha drinks, art toys, vintage decor and sustainable goods into one renovated building. The four-business space at 216 W. Mulberry St. gives permanent tenants a home while leaving room for rotating pop-ups.
Denton Record-Chronicle reported that Axis Realty took over brokerage of the building in early 2025. Brad Andrus, the company’s executive vice president, said it had most recently housed med spa The Filling Station, and also served as a pop-up gallery during this year’s Thin Line Fest and a temporary studio for local artist Dan Black, who painted the exterior mural.
How the downtown Denton spot brings businesses together
Andrus said he had intended to create a shared space for multiple businesses. Visitors, he said, now experience several businesses “when you walk through the door.” Malibu Matcha and Velcrokid are expected to remain permanent fixtures. Burnout Vintage and Rowdy Return are the first pop-up tenants.
Malibu Matcha is a new concept from Eagle Cawffee co-owners Francisco Delgado and Alyson Flores. Flores said Eagle Cawffee is known for “dessert drinks,” including its popular banana pudding latte. She and Delgado wanted the new shop to offer a different menu and reach customers who may not prefer dessert drinks.
“We’re hoping we can keep people’s interest and curiosity with a little bit more elevated menu,” Flores said. Malibu Matcha officially opened Oct. 24, and Flores said it had already been busy. She credited an existing following with contributing to the early response.
Velcrokid, an art gallery and designer toy store that began in Lewisville, has reopened inside Mulberry Jam. Owner Eric Bowman described it as a place where visitors can explore art, toys and culture. The store sells collectible figurines and toys, and customers can buy smaller mystery toys from vending machines along one wall.
Velcrokid planned a grand opening celebration for Saturday, according to the source. Bowman said being surrounded by independent businesses could help make the space a destination and give people another reason to spend time downtown.
Pop-up shops bring vintage and sustainable goods
Burnout Vintage offers vintage decor and glassware. Rowdy Return, a new concept from Thistle Creative Reuse co-owners Kari Meyercord-Westerman and Jeanna Dunlap, carries kitchen products, clothing and soaps.
Meyercord-Westerman said Rowdy Return’s inventory is either sustainably made, intended to help customers live sustainably, or supports a small or minority-owned business. She called the shop a “one-stop sustainable shop.”
Rowdy Return and Burnout Vintage planned to hold a grand opening event on Saturday, with free items and giveaways while supplies lasted. Meyercord-Westerman said Rowdy Return’s lease at Mulberry Jam was set to end at the end of the year. She and Dunlap planned to move into a permanent location near the downtown Square afterward, though they might extend the lease depending on availability.
Andrus said additional businesses and exhibits are expected to rotate through the downtown Denton spot. He said plans were already in place for the Denton Black Film Festival to use it for an exhibit and installation during its upcoming festival. The space, he said, will also serve as a gallery and an opportunity for pop-up vendors and businesses.
Red X has also covered other community efforts, including Greenfield Community Grants, community pharmacies in Cuba and GOLDLAW nonprofit grants.
That rotation will continue to shape Mulberry Jam after its first four tenants opened. The downtown Denton spot pairs two expected permanent businesses with temporary retail concepts and future exhibits, keeping the shared storefront available for new uses.