Transforming urban living with AI-powered smart vending at Turntable Studios.
How Zellis Residential used a fully managed AI Vending smart store to add measurable resident convenience without adding operational burden to the onsite team.
Case Study: Transforming Urban Living with AI-Powered Smart Vending at Turntable Studios
- Property
- Turntable Studios
- Management
- Zellis Residential / Boutique by Zellis
- Location
- Denver, Colorado, near Empower Field at Mile High
- Solution
- Fully managed AI Vending smart store
- Key Outcome
- 85% resident adoption benchmark with strong monthly repeat usage
For modern property managers and apartment owners, the challenge is not simply adding another amenity. The challenge is choosing an amenity residents actually use, that fits the property, and that does not add operational burden to the onsite team.
At Turntable Studios in Denver, the introduction of an AI Vending smart store provided a clear answer. The fully managed smart vending amenity reached an 85% resident adoption benchmark, generated 834 transaction records in the latest 30-day period, and showed strong repeat behavior from residents.
For Zellis Residential, the result reflects a thoughtful approach to amenity selection: choose services that match the property, support residents, and require zero effort for the onsite team to manage.
Data-driven success at Turntable Studios
The Turntable deployment answered the questions property managers care about when evaluating apartment vending partners: will residents use it, will they come back, and will the vendor handle the work?
A clear signal that residents embraced the amenity.
Latest 30-day period, averaging 28 transactions per day.
Share of smart-store customers with more than one transaction in a calendar month.
Share of customers recording 10 or more transactions in a calendar month.
That combination of adoption, transaction volume, and repeat usage is what separates a resident amenity from a lobby fixture. A one-time purchase can be curiosity. Repeat monthly use means the smart store is solving a real resident need.
"Our goal is to choose amenities that actually improve how residents live, not simply check a box on a leasing tour.
At Turntable, the smart store fits the building: compact urban living, high activity around the stadium, and a resident base that values convenience.
The usage data shows it has become part of the resident experience."
From nice-to-have to essential
Adoption tells one part of the story. Repeat behavior tells the more important one. Using anonymized customer identifiers and grouping transactions by customer and calendar month, the data shows that many customers returned to the smart store multiple times.
For property managers and owners, this is the resident-engagement signal. When customers record 10 or more transactions in a month, the amenity is no longer just available. It is part of how residents use the building.
Why Turntable was a strong fit
Turntable Studios is a distinctive adaptive-reuse apartment community near Empower Field at Mile High. The property began as a 1960s hotel tower and was later converted into design-forward micro-apartment living with a strong music-inspired identity.
The building's resident experience is built around efficient layouts, shared spaces, and a connected urban location. Current studio plans are listed at 339 square feet, with select larger penthouse layouts also available. The community includes resident amenities such as resident and penthouse lounges, a media room, outdoor pool, fitness center, bike storage, outdoor dog run, and off-street parking.
That alignment matters because Zellis Residential was not simply adding a machine to a lobby. The management team was extending the property's resident experience with an amenity that fit Turntable's compact, design-forward, high-activity environment.
Enhancing compact living without adding staff work
Turntable Studios needed an amenity that supported compact urban living while staying simple for the onsite team. For Zellis Residential, the right vending partner needed to deliver:
- 24/7 access to food, beverages, and essentials.
- A product mix residents would actually use.
- Reliable service during high-traffic neighborhood moments.
- A premium machine presentation that matched the property experience.
- No stocking, maintenance, or support burden for onsite staff.
- Usage data that could show whether the amenity was working.
Traditional vending would not have met the full brief. An open micro market with a self-checkout kiosk would have added complexity. AI Vending offered a middle path: a modern, fully managed smart store that residents could use whenever they needed it.
A fully managed smart store
AI Vending installed a premium smart store at Turntable Studios to provide residents with immediate access to curated food, beverage, and convenience products. The smart store functions as a fully managed automated retail hub inside the building.
The important distinction for property managers is that AI Vending is not just placing equipment. The operating model is fully managed.
For residents, the value is simple: they can get what they need without leaving the building. For the property team, the value is just as clear: the amenity drives measurable use without creating another task list.
"We have been working with Hunter and AI Vending at our property for a few months now and could not be more pleased.
Their communication has been excellent from the start, and the installation was completely hassle-free.
The product selection has also been a great fit for our residents, who really seem to resonate with and enjoy the amenity."
Property identity matched amenity utility
The success at Turntable Studios comes from alignment between property identity and amenity utility. The smart store fits the way residents actually live at the property.
Amenity Alignment
The smart store complements the building's music-themed, shared-space lifestyle.
Compact-Living Support
Residents in efficient layouts get quick access to food, drinks, and essentials without needing extra in-unit storage.
Proximity Value
During games, concerts, evenings, and high-traffic moments near Empower Field, residents have a convenient in-building option.
Operational Simplicity
The onsite team does not need to stock, service, or troubleshoot the amenity.
Data-Backed Merchandising
Product selection can evolve based on what residents actually buy.
This is why the percentages matter. A smart vending amenity that reaches an 85% resident adoption benchmark, sees 16% of customers record 10 or more transactions in a calendar month, and sees 7% exceed 15 monthly transactions is not functioning as a novelty. It is functioning as a daily-use apartment amenity.
What owners should look for in a vending partner
The Turntable case study highlights what property managers and owners should look for when selecting a vending partner for an apartment building.
Measurable Adoption
Move beyond tour appeal to actual, consistent resident usage.
Repeat Behavior
Look for evidence that residents return, not just that they try the amenity once.
Total Management
Choose a partner that owns stocking, service, maintenance, and resident support.
Product-Market Fit
The product mix should match resident behavior and evolve with usage data.
Property Fit
The machine, placement, and service model should match the building's brand and resident experience.
"We have had an excellent experience working with AI Vending and Hunter.
From the initial setup through ongoing service, the process has been seamless and professional.
Most importantly, our residents love having access to the vending machines."
For Zellis Residential, the result is a practical, modern apartment amenity that supports resident satisfaction without adding stocking, maintenance, or support work for the onsite team. It is also a strong example of resident-focused property management: identify a daily resident need, choose a partner that can operate reliably, and use the data to confirm the amenity is earning its place.
For other property managers evaluating smart vending for apartments, the Turntable Studios case study shows what success should look like: measurable adoption, repeat resident behavior, operational reliability, and a vending partner that understands the property.
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About AI Vending
AI Vending is a Colorado-based smart-store operator deploying premium, cashier-less retail in multifamily, commercial, and hospitality properties.
Every deployment is fully managed, from site planning and installation to restocking, maintenance, and liability coverage. Property teams provide the space. AI Vending handles everything else.