Amidst the holiday shopping craziness, it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of Black Friday at big-box stores and the convenience of overnight delivery with online retailers on Cyber Monday.
Small Business Saturday is an important holiday focused on supporting the many small, local businesses in our midst the ones that are the lifeblood of our community. Celebrate by shopping small on Saturday, November 25th at one of these local shops in Fort Collins! This is the perfect opportunity to get your holiday shopping done or just pick up something new for your home or closet.
There’s something for everyone, from home decor and clothing to outdoor gear and children’s toys. And the best part? Your purchase will directly benefit a local business owner!
Gifts + Books
Situated on the lively College Avenue,
Wadoo Home and Gifts is a happy, colorful shop with a carefully curated selection of gifts and home decor. They have everything from the quirky, hilarious gift to the thoughtful, handcrafted item for the home. Artistry and quality are important to the folks at Wadoo, and it’s evident in their tasteful selection.
Stepping into
Curiosities is like entering a whimsical wonderland. This premier gift shop is independently owned and operated and has been carefully and creatively curating their selection of gifts since 1996. Here, you’ll find everything from the unique and eclectic to the beautiful and practical. It’s the perfect place to stock up on stocking stuffers or find something for that person on your list who is impossible to shop for!
Magpies is both a gift shop and a place where you can come to create art, build community and celebrate life events. Whether you’re dropping in to shop for local goods in the boutique, search for unique vintage finds in The Nest, or take an arts class in the classroom, you’re in for a good time at this favorite neighborhood destination!
Sense of Place is celebrating its 28th year in 2023 as a locally owned destination for home goods, gifts and decor. Their adorable Old Town Square store boasts an inventory of candles, garden decor, seasonal items, pillows, upcycled pieces, wall art and so much more — all hand-curated to showcase quality and charm. Sense of Place is extra warm and inviting — especially during the holiday season when it is decked out from head to toe with seasonal decor!
Named after the historic Old Town building they call home,
Old Firehouse Books is Northern Colorado’s largest independent bookstore. Inside the shop, you’ll find a knowledgeable staff of bookworms, new books and used books, writing journals, cards, bookish t-shirts, and more. As one of the main headquarters for book culture in Fort Collins, they also host book clubs, book signings with authors, and other events.
Makerfolk is a modern and handmade shop in Old Town committed to supporting local makers and cultivating a creative community in Fort Collins. You will find everything from candles to books and greeting cards to glassware, all made by local artisans. The best part? Makerfolk is connected to Bean Cycle, which means you can sip on your latte of choice while you shop!
Home Decor + Art
Walnut Creek is home to an inventory that represents an eclectic mix of artisans, crafters and goods located in the historic P. Anderson Mercantile Co. building. Nearly everything in the shop is one-of-a-kind, which makes it the perfect place for incredible home decor, jewelry, clothing, crafts, fine art, and vintage and antique treasures! In addition to the shop, Walnut Creek has a professional public studio venue called
The Merchant Room and an adventure game called
Somewhere Secret.
Cozy Cottage is a locally- and family-owned company offering a variety of home decor, antique furniture, jewelry, candles, seasonal merchandise, and so much more. Their new location near Front Range Village is stocked with everything you need to create a cozy, welcoming home!
This Downtown Fort Collins store is filled floor to ceiling with garden and nature-inspired gifts. Whether you need a new ornament for your Christmas tree, a stunning statement piece for your living room, or a cozy cardigan,
The Perennial Gardener is the perfect one-stop shop.
Serving the community for 33 years,
EsScentuals is “where Old World apothecary charm meets modern luxury, with a decidedly French flair.” This sophisticated boutique has a wonderful selection of upscale products for both your home and body.
Opened in 2019,
Peacock’s Perch is a relatively new shop in Fort Collins, “inspired by a passion to create an avenue for artists to thrive.” They do this by offering unique, one-of-a-kind items made by approximately 60 different artists crafting jewelry, furniture, antiques, art, decor and clothing. Peacock’s Perch is focused on the highest quality products, most of which are handcrafted.
Dandelions & Rust is a small shop in Old Town opened by besties and long-time crafters Tanya and Karyn Mielke. The space contains works from more than 50 local artists, makers, upcyclers and collectors. You’ll find handmade and vintage jewelry, local 2D and 3D art, upcycled and vintage furniture, classic dishware and linens, greeting cards, new and secondhand books, vintage clothing, small-bath natural body care, and much more.
Men’s + Women’s Apparel
Kansas City Kitty opened in 2002 with a simple dream: “to offer a space that welcomes everyone and to support unique craftsmanship.” They achieve this with their inviting, helpful staff and their focus on quality products, including their clothing, accessories and gifts. Kansas City Kitty carries brands that make a difference; for example, Indigo & Goldenrod uses only natural fibers and prioritizes local dyes found right here in Fort Collins and TenTree plants ten trees for every item purchased!
Akinz is a lifestyle brand for stylish adventurers. Their handcrafted goods are produced in their flagship Fort Collins store — from the hand-printed shirts to the handmade beanies. Inspired by the Colorado lifestyle (think snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking, craft beer and more), their goods highlight our beautiful region in fun and unique ways!
HEYDAY is a fun, fresh and playful retail shop at Jessup Farm Artisan Village featuring a highly curated collection of quality women’s apparel, shoes and accessories — and their most recent adventure: men’s clothing! Everything you’ll find here is timeless, beautiful and chic, supplied by excellent brands and designers.
Founded by a Fort Collins native and CSU graduate,
Lemons & Lace is an adorable one-stop shop offering contemporary women’s apparel and athleisure clothing, footwear, apothecary items, home decor, gifts, jewelry and other accessories. Peruse their handpicked items from brands around the country and make a statement with your wardrobe!
Blue Harvest Apparel is “inspired by road trips, the feel of sunshine and festivals.” You can feel this cheerful spirit when you peruse their carefully curated selection of elevated-casual clothing, premium denim and handpicked accessories. Their pieces can easily be mixed and matched for your everyday wardrobe!
Alpine Arts is a local family-owned store that has operated out of the historic Avery Building since 1981. They have a wide selection of gifts, clothing, jewelry, decor, souvenirs and art, most of which is either made in Colorado or in the USA.
Rustic Thread is a California-meets-Colorado-style fashion boutique in the heart of downtown Fort Collins. They have a passion for helping women feel great while looking effortlessly chic. Dress yourself up for the holidays or stock up on stylish gifts!
Sunday Supply Co. is a clothing and lifestyle boutique in Old Town started in 2014 by two best friends who wanted to create a comfortable space with a collection of unique and inspiring products. And that’s just what they’ve done! They have quality apparel and accessories alongside well-crafted home goods they have hand-selected with an easy yet sophisticated lifestyle in mind.
Kids
Owned by sisters Jenny and Becca,
Clothes Pony & Dandelion Toys is a children’s shopping haven. The store is packed with children’s clothing, shoes and accessories, plus lots of books, baby gifts, toys and more. Plus, they have items the new mom will appreciate, including maternity clothing, cloth diapers, carriers, and more.
Whether it’s comics, board and roleplaying games, miniature war games, or novelties you’re looking for,
Gryphon has it! As Fort Collins’ premier comic and game store, they offer the collectibles and games you didn’t know you needed alongside refreshments at Purple Cup Cafe and gaming events and workshops.
Outdoor Gear
Rooted in mountain culture and outdoor living,
Topo Designs makes packs, gear, clothing and accessories for city life and mountain adventures. Built right here in Fort Collins, their packs have become known across the country for a reason. They use the highest quality fabrics, hardware and materials, and overbuild everything; then, they stand behind it all with a lifetime warranty for repair or replacement.
Though it has changed hands a few times over the years,
Brave New Wheel has been a Fort Collins destination since 1983. In the shop, they focus on bike service and repair, custom builds, wheel building, suspension work and basically anything you need to make your ride better. They also serve beer, so you can stop in to socialize and shop at the same time!
Camping, hiking, cycling, climbing, winter and water sports gear —
The Gearage has it all. Their mission is to promote sustainability and access to the outdoors, and they do this by offering both new and used outdoor gear of all types at reasonable prices. They also have a full-service bike shop!
Food + Drink / Kitchen
As you look through shelves and shelves of sweet, savory, spicy and inventive blends in this Old Town shop, you may find you’ve spent your entire shopping day in one place. But that’s not a bad thing! From teas and coffees to salts and sugars, they have something for every kitchen and many of the spices are freshly ground in the store.
At
The Cupboard, they believe the kitchen is the heart of the home and it should be filled with the decor and appliances to prove it. Family owned since 1972, this beloved shop has everything you need in the kitchen, from quality cutlery to specialty food and home decor to kitchen tools.
Inspired by the power of natural and herbal healing methods,
Golden Poppy stocks bulk herbs and tea blends, custom herbal extract formulas, essential oils, flower essences, body care products and more. You can stop by to shop, learn about functional nutrition, and meet with their clinical practitioners to discuss specific ailments.
Since 2009,
Happy Lucky’s Teahouse has been the go-to source for high-quality teas in Fort Collins. With a commitment to quality, selection and community, Happy Lucky’s offers an interactive and immersive experience in their Old Town shop. Here, you can peruse their collection of more than 200 loose-leaf teas (the largest in the state of Colorado!) on their Great Wall of Tea. Their “leafsters” will help you find the perfect tea, whether you like white, green or black tea — or maybe oolong, herbal or rooibos. They also carry a large assortment of teaware and brewing accessories to enhance your at-home tea experience.
Nuance Chocolate creates small-batch, bean-to-bar chocolates made straight from cocoa beans roasted and ground inside their Old Town facility. You can pick up these delicious and authentic creations in the form of fresh truffles, single-origin and flavored bars, hot chocolate, and more!
Shop Small!
What local businesses in Fort Collins are on your shopping list?
