“Mom & pop stores are not about something small; they are about something big. They are important … for providing us with intellectual stimulation, social interaction, and connection to our communities.” — Robert Spector
The commercial topography of Anytown, America, is changing due to a distinct set of economic circumstances. The buying power of large corporate entities and the low overhead of online retailers are undercutting the profit margins of independent brick-and-mortar businesses. As mom & pop shops give way to big box outlets, national chains and web-based sales platforms, the independent business model is becoming an increasingly difficult equation to balance.
Despite these daunting circumstances, a few independent proprietors have found a way to stand their ground against the seemingly unstoppable tsunami of hospital waiting room-like establishments and soulless, whitewashed, cookie-cutter stores. While Denver’s ongoing transformation into a generic urban sprawl mirrors that of most American cities, a stubborn patchwork of retail holdouts continue to express traits of their 20th Century DNA by operating with distinct, inimitable identities. These holdouts are singular brands that cannot be duplicated or synthesized any more than the personalities of their proprietors could be mimicked, molded or mass-marketed.
This is by no means a comprehensive index, rather, it is a suggestion of infamous standouts across several industries — a list intended to expand the perception of your daily commercial options. Whether you must drive an extra mile, rearrange your schedule to make “normal” store hours or spend an extra buck or two — spending your hard-earned money in businesses with soul is damn well worth it.
Cigars On 6th
(707 E. 6th Ave., Denver, CO 80203)
A circle of ornate, leather-padded chairs await tobacco connoisseurs, humidor aficionados and enraptured novices alike. Visitors can expect knowledgeable advice on the nuances of different cigar brands and can be reassured that at no point will they be harangued by salesy pretense or over-accommodating smarm. You can choose from a world-class selection, light up on the spot and relax into conversation with your companions and other patrons while the game plays in the background on a giant flat screen TV.
Rupp’s Drums
(2045 S. Holly St., Denver, CO 80224)
This retail percussion mecca was originally opened by the infamous Bob Rupp in 1984 and is revered among local musicians and internationally renowned rock stars alike. Just about every stackable square inch of space is occupied by the necessities of the percussive arts. Every member of the sales staff is either a seasoned drummer, an accomplished musician of another sort, a sound engineer or all three. You can expect expert advice on every facet of their product line and practical suggestions based on your specific needs. The difference between shopping here and going to a chain store is the difference between front row seats at your favorite band’s live concert and watching a video of said event shot on a wobbly smartphone.
Wax Trax Records
(620 E. 13th Ave., Denver, CO 80203)
This Capitol Hill landmark has been Denver’s go-to place for recorded music since the early 1980s. Unlike corporate retail stores, the staff are neither instructed nor inclined to adhere to the notion of “the customer is always right.” You will not be bombarded by insincere politeness or overly-helpful attention. Rather, you can expect to be left alone to browse a staggeringly comprehensive offering of music across all genres. The selection of domestic and imported music is unparalleled, and if you can’t find what you’re looking for because you don’t remember the artist’s name or you can’t spell — you may get the idea that you shouldn’t be there in the first place. This mainstay has outlasted several pivotal trends, including the file sharing fiasco, the music pirating era and the Independent Records location that set up shop a few blocks away and recently folded. Wax Trax is currently riding high on the wave of the vinyl record resurgence.
Mutiny Information Cafe
(2 S. Broadway, Denver, CO 80209)
A South Broadway landmark for years, this one-of-a-kind bookstore, coffee bar, comic book shop, used record rack and pinball arcade is what some refer to as Denver’s “epicenter of cultural mojo.” Proprietors Matt Meygasi and Jim Norris personally curate every piece of inventory — be it the latest issue of X-MEN or a newly-released, signed album by Steve Earle. You can order a Thai iced tea, an Americano or a matcha tea latte, grab a chair in one of the lounge areas and read, philosophize, play chess, work on your epic poem or just stare at all the shelves and wonder where to begin. Frequent poetry readings, musical performances, book signings and presentations by literary luminaries make this place a shining example of what can happen when you disengage from virtual media and go interact with people the old-fashioned way — in person.
Rockmount Ranch Wear
(1626 Wazee St., Denver, CO 80202)
In 1946, “Papa” Jack Weil founded this Denver institution that has organically grown into an international fashion phenomenon. For three generations, these western-themed stylings have enticed blue collar folks, alternative icons, country music legends and rock ’n’ roll superstars. The company has remained family-run since its inception, was passed down to Jack Jr. and is currently run by Papa’s grandson Steve Weil. Their LoDo storefront avails visitors to a museum-like stroll through a rustic setting abundant with western motif, custom embroidered shirts and everyday “ranch” wear. Papa Jack was also the inventor of the snap-up button shirt, which has been endorsed by the likes of Bob Dylan, Steve Buschemi and Elvis Presley. Although internationally acclaimed and often imitated, the store and its wares exude an undeniably genuine appeal to everyday people.
The Wizard’s Chest
(451 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203)
This family-owned gift-shopping paradise that first opened in 1983 has become a Denver institution. This 18,000 square foot behemoth hearkens back to a time when kids’ games were played in actual reality with tangible toys, inspired imaginations and physical human beings. The original Cherry Creek location was moved to South Broadway in 2015 and features, gifts, gags, gadgets and games of every imaginable stripe along with costumes galore and a professional theater makeup department. Such gargantuan retail overhead would spell disaster for a start-up, but decades of building a large clientele has enabled proprietors to leverage their brand loyalty into a real-life community of exciting weekly events. Meetups are held for fledgling magicians, board game experts, Lord of the Rings lovers, Dungeons and Dragons players, Star Wars geeks and much more. Their impressive calendar of constructive extra-curricular engagement is no doubt one of the keys to their long-lived success and a feature that would be impossible to replicate in a corporate bureaucracy.
The new Denver location boasts an assembly line of sparkling, brightly-lit retail facades adorned by careful corporate branding. Yet, a few stalwarts of the old business model dare to offer personality, sincerity and expertise rather than the bland, sterile mediocrity that seems to be all the rage. So, the next time you see a storefront that is not emblazoned with a generic logo that has been burned into your psyche through mainstream marketing, take a chance and pop in. You just might experience what yesterday was commonplace and what tomorrow may be but a dusty memory.