BY BRANDON ELLIS | SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2021
Resting at the foot of the Rockies, Colorado Springs is a picturesque travel destination with a vivacious mountain culture and a creative spirit. Here, you’ll find some of the best boutique and artisan shopping in the state. Whether you want a gift for a loved one or a token to remember your time in Colorado Springs, check out these fun and unique shops, hand-selected by our local experts.
CORALUN VINTAGE
At Coralun Vintage, you will find a carefully curated selection of vintage clothing items that evoke the Bohemian essence of Colorado style, with notes of the southwest. While the store specializes in items from the seventies, it features attire from the sixties through the nineties as well. Within the store is Coralun Handmade—owner Lauren Abbott’s handmade jewelry studio. Abbott uses locally sourced Colorado gemstones, metal smithing, and wire wrapping to craft handmade pieces in small batches. Coralun Vintage is open Thursdays through Saturdays and is a “mustn’t miss” market experience.
HEARTSHAKE STUDIOS
Located in historic Old Colorado City (one of the first neighborhoods of Colorado Springs), Heartshake Studios offers high quality artisan goods made by owner, Kit Hutchinson, and other LGBTQ+/BIPOC creators. Kit studied studio arts at Bard College and started their unique Etsy shop back in 2013. Since then, their vision has evolved into Heartshake Studios, a brick-and-mortar hub for a unique collection of curated gifts and home décor. A lot of the studio is inspired by the colors and culture of the Southwest, however everyone seems to find something that catches their eyes when they venture around this fun-local shop.
POOR RICHARD’S BOOKS AND GIFTS AND LITTLE RICHARD’S TOY STORE
As one of the first bookstore-cafe combinations in the United States, Poor Richard’s has been a Colorado Springs landmark since the seventies. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see their large ‘Armadillo over the Sun & Moon’ logo. Here, you’ll find many new books from bestselling to niche, though their specialty is high-quality used books. Often, they have rare collectibles or first editions that draw book collectors from all over the world to Colorado Springs. For the adventurer, Poor Richard’s is a great spot to visit before a hike. They have an extensive selection of maps, trail guides, and flora/fauna books. You can also browse a unique selection of gifts, from fair trade items to home gifts and locally handcrafted jewelry.
Little Richard’s Toy Store is also located in the same building. They sell educational toys like science kits, as well as stuffed animals and locally made items from recycled materials. After a day of shopping, refuel at Poor Richard’s Restaurant, famous for their New York-style pizzas, or Rico’s Cafe and Wine Bar, known for its European style drip coffee and gourmet iced tea bar.
ECLECTIC CO.
Eclectic Co. is a women-owned cooperative retail space that opened in 2018. Its flagship store is in the heart of Colorado Springs, plus it recently opened a second location in Old Colorado City. Between the two locations, they showcase goods from over 105 artists/makers with an emphasis on creativity and sustainability. You will find just about every handmade, artisanal good you could dream of, from hand-stitched greeting cards to bonbons to Colorado mountain style apparel. Their mission is to reduce barriers to market for quality sustainable and handmade craft goods. Not only do they sell quality artisan products, Eclectic Co. also provides support, education and camaraderie to makers and a buttress to the Colorado Springs community. Eclectic CO. supports local artisans, healthy local economies, and social impact enterprises to promote social justice and environmental improvement.
Eclectic Co. and many more local makers and venues showcase their artisanal goods at ‘First Friday Downtown’. This event series is held the first Friday of every month from 5pm to 9pm, complete with live music, galleries, and performances. Learn more about First Fridays Downtown and its participating venues.
