Metro area shoppers may find more "serious food at silly prices" next month.

Sunflower Farmers Market, which touts the "silly" motto, is set to open two stores July 11, one in North Denver at 4700 W. 38th Ave. and the other in Highlands Ranch at 1980 E. County Line Road.

Bennett Bertoli, the vice president with Sunflower who oversees store development, said Sunflower was the first to sign on for the Highlands' Garden Village retail area that runs east and west from 38th Avenue and Wolff Street.

That was a while ago. When the Denver Business Journal first reported Sunflower's North Denver plans in July 2005, it said owners hoped to open shop sometime in 2006. And when regular YourHub.com user Peggy Mackinnon posted an update about the store in December 2005, she told shoppers to look for it to open in late 2006.

"Contruction takes longer than anticipated," Bertoli conceded. Previously, all new Sunflowers blossomed in renovated buildings.

Bertoli isn't new to this biz. He, Mike Gilliland, Libby Cook and Pat Gilliland founded Sunflower and also launched Wild Oats, you'll also read inthe DBJ story.

With other popular neighborhoods in Denver -- Lowry and Stapleton, for example -- I was curious why Sunflower chose Highland.

Bertoli said the store leadership looks at "a lot of demographics," including a certain number of people in a one-mile area. They also factor in education.

"In the better educated areas, we seem to do better," Bertoli said.

You read it here first, Stapletonians and Lowryites: We Highlanders are smarter.

Westminster residents may want to check out the store, as Sunflower has its sites on their city next. Bertoli wouldn't reveal the location but said it is an existing building.

And don't expect the growth to stop there.

Bertoli said his group thinks they could get at least four more storefronts in the Denver area, and possibly west of here.

"Sometime down the road, we might take a look at Grand Junction, but right now there are so many opportunities in this area.," Bertoli said.