Welcome to the Denver Gazette’s Metro Moves. You’ll get the latest metro Denver openings, closings, hiring and promotion news here. To submit your company’s news, drop an email to bernadette.berdychowski@denvergazette.com.

LEGO sells its first commercial space set and it’s inspired by a Colorado company

Lunar Outpost, the rover company based in Golden working with NASA to bring humans back to the moon, now has its own LEGO set.

In collaboration, LEGO released the Lunar Outpost Moon Rover Space Vehicle last week.

LEGO has made dozens of rocket and space sets inspired by NASA missions for decades, but this is the toymaker’s first partnership with a commercial space company.

“This new Lunar Outpost LEGO Technic model builds upon this legacy, celebrating a new chapter in space exploration and the extraordinary discoveries to come,” said Daniel Meehan, creative lead for space at the Lego Group.

The LEGO set has a rover inspired by Lunar Outpost’s rover design and includes a rocker suspension, four-wheel steering, deployable solar panels and a rotating arm.

Soccer, Legos and the moon? Colorado's Lunar Outpost partners with big brands

The robotic arm can lift up a smaller rover that was modeled after the company’s MAPP rover that landed on the moon in March, but was trapped when Intuitive Machine’s Athena lander tipped over when it hit the surface of the moon.

“Together, we created a kit that showcases our technologies to fuel the dreams of future engineers, scientists, and astronauts,” stated Justin Cyrus, founder and CEO of Lunar Outpost.

Wayfair opening big-box store in Denver

Wayfair is delivering a new furniture store to Denver soon.

The online furniture retailer announced last week it would open a physical location in Denver in 2026. It will be a 140,000-square-foot store, which is larger than the average Target store, located at The Shops at Northfield in the Central Park neighborhood.

It’ll be Wayfair’s first store in the Mountain West region, the company said.

The online retailer is growing its physical footprint beginning with its first store outside of Chicago last year.

The Denver store is the third new store announced by Wayfair this year followed by Atlanta and Yonkers, N.Y.

“As we expand our physical retail footprint into new regions across the U.S., we remain focused on delivering an exceptional shopping experience that brings the best of Wayfair to life,” said Liza Lefkowski, the company’s vice president of merchandising and stores, in a press release.

The Denver store on 8298 E. Northfield Blvd. will be two stories and will feature Wayfair’s catalog with 19 departments ranging from furniture, appliances, mattresses, decor and more.

Customers will also be able to take advantage of Wayfair’s quick delivery system for large purchases.

“This collaboration is a key step in reimagining the center into a dynamic, pedestrian-focused destination that better serves the Denver Metro area,” said Jeff Bhathal, managing director of retail at Stockdale Capital Partners, the owner of the shopping center. 

Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce hires new government affairs director

The voice of Denver metro businesses has a new director of government affairs for the Colorado Competitive Council (C3), the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce announced Monday.

The organization hired Parker White to work with C3 investors and chamber members to push for more business-friendly policies and make the state more competitive for companies.

He’s scheduled begin Aug. 18.

“This is an incredible opportunity to partner with leaders from every corner of our state to ensure our economy is thriving, our policies are practical, and our businesses are equipped to succeed,” White said.

White was previously the government affairs director for the Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and serves on the advisory board for the Colorado Space Business Roundtable and is a logistics officer for the Colorado Army National Guard.

“His statewide and national experience, combined with a deep commitment to service, makes him the right leader to guide C3 and our government affairs strategy,” said J.J. Ament, the chamber’s president and CEO, in a press release. “We know he will hit the ground running for our members.”

BERNADETTE BERDYCHOWSKI | The Denver Gazette