A former fortune cookie factory in Denver’s Baker neighborhood is being relaunched as an art space. Developer, art collector, and philanthropist Amanda J. Precourt closed on the crumbling factory in 2017 and saw its potential despite its dilapidated state.
Precourt, who sits on the boards of both the Denver Art Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, purchased the 5,000-square-foot factory for $1.5 million. The building, originally a paper mill built in 1941, was home to Sunrise Food Products Inc., which produced fortune cookies for over six decades. Precourt now lives above the gallery in a custom-built, 7,900-square-foot condo.
The venue, named “Cookie Factory,” is a fine art gallery, sculpture garden, and event space, offering free admission to the public regardless of the exhibition. Cookie Factory officially opened on May 24, 2025. It will display custom and large-scale works from international artists with two new exhibitions each year.
The launch features a site-specific installation by Los Angeles-based artist Sam Falls, titled “Nothing Without Nature.” This exhibition includes paintings, sculptures, video work, and photographs inspired by the Rocky Mountains. Precourt’s resources have allowed Falls to spend time in the Yampa Valley and the Flat Top Mountains to gather inspiration for his work. The exhibition was curated by artistic director Jérôme Sans, who appreciates Denver’s collaborative spirit.
According to Sans, one of the co-founders along with artist Andrew Jensdotter (Precourt’s husband), “There’s a silly ethos in how we all work and play together. Why do kids love cookies?
Fortune cookie factory art transformation
Because they’re delicious, of course. We want to stay youthful here while also bringing serious artists and art to Denver.”
Cookie Factory also plans to hand out custom-made fortune cookies with humorous messages to visitors and artists. For Precourt, art collecting has been instrumental in her mental health turnaround.
Her work includes projects like the Amanda J. Precourt Galleries at the Martin Building. Despite delays from the pandemic and personal losses, Precourt remains committed to sponsoring shows at galleries worldwide.
Cookie Factory maintains a light and airy atmosphere, with several interior exhibition galleries, a dedicated viewing room for video works, and an outdoor sculpture garden for large-scale works. The transformation required extensive renovations, including power-washing the original wood ceiling with walnut shells to remove black mold and re-zoning the building for mixed-use. Unlike many galleries that operate as non-profits, Precourt chose not to go that route for Cookie Factory.
She aims to avoid competition with her loyalties to non-profit art institutions and sees Cookie Factory as an investment in Denver. A proud Denver native and East High School graduate, Precourt praises the supportive Baker neighborhood. “We can always use more art spaces in Denver, and this being a part of town where artists and musicians live, it feels like a good fit,” she said.
“It had a positive energy when I first visited, with all these fortunes floating around with encouraging messages. We want to bring those same messages of peace, love, and prosperity to the art scene.”
