Jacqueline Hart, Gilpin County. Shopping online for the holidays was once a welcome solution to long lines, jam packed parking lots and time-consuming trips wandering malls searching for items that had likely sold out weeks before. Wal-Mart online, Amazon and other retailers that have swarmed the internet offer convenient purchasing power while we stay at home. Alone. Our quests for presents no longer include the thrill of discovering the perfect gift in that shop we almost skipped, or the exhilaration we might feel as the cashier points to a shelf and responds to our request for that must-have item with, “I have the last one in the store on that shelf right back there,” or even the small wins, like finding a parking spot at the mall when we had almost thrown in the towel and gone home.
Maybe you have grown nostalgic for the holiday shopping extravaganzas of days past, or perhaps you want to avoid the holiday stress that appears every year at this time as you nervously wait for those packages to arrive, convinced that this is the year the most important gift on your list won’t make it in time. If you’re bored with clicking and you’re looking for a way to participate in traditional holiday shopping, but the thought of supporting consumerism on steroids by standing in long lines at department stores doesn’t suit you, our local stores offer a shopping experience beyond swapping dollars for the same gifts everyone else in the world is giving.
Gilpin County Arts Association. The building was Central City’s first jail and courthouse back in 1864. Since 1947 this location has served as a beautiful Art Gallery, managed today by Michele Roussel. Michele is a fabulous tour guide and thoughtfully shares the stories behind every piece of art, as well as the history of the building and stories that rest within its walls. An art gallery might not be the first place to come to mind when looking for holiday gifts, but this year the gallery is showing their first ever Holiday Show with unique gifts ranging in price from $5 to $1,000. Sculptures, greeting cards, candles, hand-crafted jewelry, books and more, are created mostly by locals from Gilpin County and other parts of Colorado.
From T-shirts to jewelry and gorgeous prints and paintings, the Gilpin Arts Association Gallery is the perfect place to find a gift that communicates fondness or admiration for someone special. The pottery is both functional, won’t catch fire in the oven or fall apart in a dishwasher, and exclusive. You won’t find the same dishes and mugs in a department store, and they are priced between $12 and $15.You’ll find a gift that makes a statement at the Gilpin Arts Association Gallery. You can shop at: 117 Eureka St. in Central City. They’re open all week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Mountain Heart Gallery. In the space previously known as Mountain Goat Gallery is the new and improved Mountain Heart Gallery. The name change fits the warm and comforting energy inside the shop. If you have ever experienced a shop that inspires swift gasps of “Oh, I love this,” and “Oh, that’s different,” Mountain Heart is one of those shops. Mimi Ritter, the welcoming shop-owner and hostess for your shopping excursion, is also one of the featured artists in the store. Gifts here created by local artists range from $10 to $700 and include; printed art by Gary Thomas, photos by Dee Thomas, wool rugs by Mimi Ritter, flower boxes by Phyllis Keith, an exceptional lamp made from a fire extinguisher by Don Ritter, and Polymer Clay pieces by Laura Schiller.
If you have tried the addictive toffee sold around town by Red Rocks Toffee Company, you can buy some to share at this gallery. If the smell of store-bought car fresheners irritates you, but you’d like a pleasant-smelling automobile, there is a version of this product made with essential oils, perfect for stocking stuffers, and available at Mountain Heart. If you look in the window you can see an interesting piece of art for the home, made from ski’s, it’s a perfect gift for the snow sport enthusiast on your list. Mountain Heart Gallery is open on weekends through the holidays and located at; 115 Main Street in Central City.
Mountain Menagerie. If your holiday tastes lean more toward “Nightmare Before Christmas,” than “A Christmas Story,” you’ll likely enjoy shopping at the Mountain Menagerie where the staff reports regular visits from friendly ghosts. Maybe it’s because of the building’s age, or maybe it’s the 14,000 square feet of space to play that attracts the many visitors from the other side. When you shop here, you get a free ghost story with your purchase!
There is a vibe inside the store that begs to be explored. Some items for purchase are from local artists, like handmade jewelry and glass bottle windchimes by former shop owner Sandy Rebel, and wooden tables and other home accessories by Lickey’s Notty Woods. You can also find an assortment of dolls, some creepy and some classic, quilts, handmade Christmas ornaments, greeting cards, artwork, wedding dresses, clothing, handbags and more. The inventory at the Mountain Menagerie comes from both estate sales and independent local artists, so a gift purchased here promises to be one of a kind. The Mountain Menagerie, located at 121 Main St. in Central City, is open all week through the holidays from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Golden Rose Antiques. In what was the first Pharmacy in Central City in 1874, there is now a plethora of antiques and collectables acquired by Jeffrey Warner, the store’s manager. If there is a lover of vinyl records, blue willow designed china, or classic wooden chests, on your holiday shopping list this year, stop in and check out the goods at this old school shop. Many of the items here come with stories to tell. Be sure to ask about the arctic native looking masks in the glass case. These pieces come with two stories, and you can choose your own adventure by deciding which to believe! Goods in this shop are acquired mostly from estate sales and change all the time. Ask for Jeff and mention this article if you shop there, and he’s offered to a give a 5% discount on your purchases! Golden Rose Antiques is open from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and is located at 107 Eureka St. You can also reach Jeff to schedule a time to shop at (303) 303-1682 or by email at goldenrose1874@yahoo.com. Even the email address is retro!
St. James Thrift Store. If giving back is on your holiday to-do-list, then stop by the St. James Thrift Shop at 111 Eureka St. in Central City. Saint James will celebrate its 20th Anniversary in January 2019 and is operated exclusively by volunteers. All profits collected through the store year-round benefit the community directly and are used to help members of the community in need. Donations are received weekly and inventory is always changing, but they report that presently they have an unusually high volume of new items, some still displaying original price tags. The early bird gets the worm in bargain shopping, so stopping here first could be excitingly beneficial to your holiday budget. St. James Thrift Store is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Thursday to Saturday through the holidays.
Mineshaft Mercantile. If your thrift shop tastes can be described as more “old west” than antique or retro, the Mineshaft Mercantile may have what you’re looking for - or what the mountain man or woman on your list yearns for. Owned by Tim Underwood, the Mercantile is known for its out of the ordinary items and timeless mountain atmosphere. Among the items available are tools, musical instruments, vinyl records, cassette tapes, VHS tapes, household items, books, sporting goods and much more. Inventory here is always changing so you must see for yourself. Prices are sometimes negotiable so if you love bartering, the Mercantile offers the kind of shopping you’re looking for. The Mineshaft Mercantile is located at 70 Main St. in Rollinsville and is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Roy’s Last Shot. If you have eaten at the restaurant, you may have heard Roy exclaim, “Everything here is for sale!” until you ask for the Star Wars pieces and then he says, “Except that.” If you’re proud of your negotiation expertise, you may want to check out what’s on display. In addition to Roy’s personal art work, local artists regularly stock the walls, shelves and just about any open space with new inventory, at The Last Shot. Roy likes to re-organize, periodically putting items away and bringing them back later to allow customers to notice them all over again, so if you don’t see what you came for it may behoove you to ask if what you’re looking for has been hidden. There are small dollar items like earrings, magnets and ornaments, and higher priced items like stained glass, wall art and collectables. If you’re looking for a place to give back this season, Roy’s is excepting donations for the Christmas Party on December 16, and the current offerings can be seen now under the tree in the dining room. Roy’s Last Shot is located at 17268 CO-119 in Gilpin Count y and hours of operation are Wednesday 3-9 p.m., Thursday and Friday 9 a.m. -9:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. -9 p.m.
Happy shopping this holiday season!
(Originally published in the December 6, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)
