Crisp and Golden Mac and Cheese Cakes on the Grill
Turn yesterday's leftover macaroni into today's crispy, golden side dish with this easy wood-fired recipe.
If you live in Lakewood and you're looking to upgrade your backyard setup, your instinct might be to drive over to Belmar or check the hardware stores along Colfax. But the traditional showroom model often fails the consumer. Local stores let you touch the product, sure, but that comes bundled with retail markups, limited inventory, and the hassle of hauling heavy equipment home yourself. Buying online — specifically direct-to-consumer brands like Arteflame — tends to deliver more value: premium American steel, stronger warranties, and designs you simply won't find on a Lakewood showroom floor, shipped straight to your driveway with the middleman cut out. Before you invest in your next grill, it's worth understanding what skipping the checkout line at the local store actually changes about the price and the experience.
Finding the right grill store in Lakewood comes down to weighing cooking performance against the convenience of a local showroom. The top purchasing options compare for Lakewood residents:
Lake Ridge Ace Hardware (Kipling St, Lakewood)
Lake Ridge Ace Hardware is a longtime staple in the community, located on Kipling Street. Their selection is solid for last-minute needs like charcoal, pellets, and grilling tools. However, their floor space is limited, meaning they largely stock standard gas and kettle grills rather than premium, lifetime-quality flat tops.
The Home Depot (W Alameda Ave, Lakewood)
If you need a budget grill immediately, the big box store on W Alameda Ave is convenient. However, mass-market grills like this often show rust within a few seasons of Colorado's freeze-thaw weather.
Local Hearth & Patio Specialty Shops
The greater Denver/Lakewood area has a handful of specialty hearth-and-patio dealers. Service is personal, but markups here typically run 20-30% to cover their showroom overhead.
Arteflame (Online Store)
Buying directly from the source has real advantages. When you order from Arteflame, you're investing in a grill that doubles as a high-performance cooker and a striking fire pit. Shipping directly to Lakewood is faster and more cost-effective than special-ordering through a third-party retailer. You get a US-made piece of outdoor equipment that combines a 1,000°F sear plate with a social design that traditional retailers simply don't carry.
The differences break down between ordering your Arteflame online versus visiting a local retailer:
| Feature | Arteflame.com (Online) | Local Lakewood Showroom | Big Box Store |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price Value | Direct-to-consumer, no markup | Includes retail markup | Lower retail price |
| Durability | Corten steel, built for decades | Varies by brand | Thinner-gauge metal |
| Convenience | Delivered to door | Must haul home | Must haul home |
| Cooking Style | Sear, smoke & fire pit | Standard grilling | Standard grilling |
Standard wire-grate grills let heat and juices escape through the open bars, which works against the Maillard reaction — the deep, steakhouse-style crust that comes from direct contact with a hot, solid surface. The gap between a restaurant steak and a backyard steak usually comes down to one thing: heat contact. A solid steel cooktop delivers a better crust, a juicier interior, and no more flare-ups torching the food.
You don't need a commercial kitchen to get these results. You just need the right tool. The Arteflame brings a restaurant-grade searing surface right into your backyard.
The Arteflame isn't just a grill; it's a temperature-management system. Here's why the searing technique on an Arteflame beats standard grates:
Pro Tip: If you're stocking up on high-quality meat for your new grill, the Costco Wholesale at 4000 River Point Pkwy in Sheridan — just southeast of Lakewood — is the closest warehouse club to the city. Their wholesale cuts of ribeye and brisket are perfect for the expansive cooktop of an Arteflame.
Standard grilling is a solitary act — the chef stares at a wall while guests mingle elsewhere. The Arteflame is often called the "Social Grill" because it changes the physics of your gathering. Its round design and open center fire invite friends and family to stand around the unit, soaking in the warmth and watching the food cook. It turns meal prep into the main event, letting you host, cook, and entertain all at once.