John and Anne Scarffe, Gilpin County. It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas despite it being 2020 with pandemics and fires. Black Hawk and Central City offer lots of shopping opportunities without driving to Evergreen or down the canyon. All of the businesses use safety plexiglass in front of counters and adhere to the 6-feet separation regulations.

EAGLESmart Convenience Store

In Black Hawk, next door to the Black Hawk Post Office on Clear Creek Street, residents and visitors will now find EAGLESmart Convenience Store, an innovative fundraising branch of the Gilpin County Education Foundation (GCEF). The mission of the 501(c)3 Foundation is to provide additional resources to better the education of Gilpin County students. 

GCEF has designed EAGLESmart to provide real-world business experience as part of a new program offered to students of Gilpin County School. The store offers all the essentials including canned goods, dog food, chips, soda and even dish soap and cleaners. 

CGEF Chair Craig Holmes said the store provides a quick-in-and-out a retail option for residents. They appreciate anyone who would patronize the store, which also provides jobs that are not gaming related. 

EAGLESmart hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Sunday with hours from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
Location: Next door to the Black Hawk Post Office on Clear Creek Street, Black Hawk.

Main Street in Central City now offers several opportunities for gifts and essentials during the holidays and any time in the year. 

Mayor Willie’s Coffee & Donuts and Moosetang Ridge

Karen and Dave Beightol own Mayor Willie’s Coffee & Donuts, which offers quality, natural coffee, donuts, tea, pies, pastries and more, using only the best, all-natural ingredients. Moosetang Ridge offers shop local masks, postcards, jewelry, stickers, prints and rocks. They also have engraved wooden products and will customize wooden engraving. 

Hours are open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., closed Monday through Thursday. 
Location: 125 Main Street, Central City. 
Website: http://donuts@mayorwillies.com 
Email: donuts@mayorwillies.com 
Phone: 720-840-3165.

Hawley Mercantile of Central City

Next door, Hawley Mercantile of Central City contains four floors of vendor booths including gifts, jewelry, hand crafts, sculptures, paintings, antiques, collectibles, gold, diamonds, toys and books. Originally built in 1874, the building retains its original name.

Vendors pay for the booth space, and they have between 30 and 40 vendors.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Monday and closed on Tuesday. 
Location: 121 Main Street, Central City.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hawleymercantile/?ref=page_internal.

Mountain Heart Gallery

Next up the street, the Mountain Heart Gallery, , features handmade art and collectibles from local Colorado artists and a number of art and craft classes. Owner Mimi Ritter said everything in the store is handmade by local Colorado artists, unique one-of-a-kind items, and they have new items every week. 

The store is open from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed on Mondays. 
Location: 115 Main Street, Central City.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Art-Gallery/Mountain-Heart-Gallery-1935855976527482/
Email: mountainheartgallery@gmail.com
Phone: 720-612-8734 

Annie Oakley’s Liquor and Grocery Store

Annie Oakley’s Liquor and Grocery Store at has about everything anyone would need. The store includes a marijuana dispensary, a liquor store and a grocery store.

Hours are Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 
Location: 135 Nevada Street, Central City.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Annie-Oakleys-Liquor-and-Grocery-Store.
With all of these shopping opportunities in Black Hawk and Central City, try holiday shopping right here in Gilpin County.

(Originally published in the November 12, 2020, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)