Nine places that keep Colorado Springs "weird"
The following is a lighthearted look at some staple Colorado Springs businesses. Some have opened in the past 20 years. Some first opened back in the mid-1900s. Either way, take a look at why they all play a part in making Colorado Springs "weird" in their own way.
- Victoria Valenzuela, The Gazette
- Updated
Leechpit Records & Vintage has been keeping Colorado Springs "lame" for about 20 years. Ran by the Leech family, the store is full of decades-old items in mint condition. Their store is a dream come true for any toy collector, music enthusiast, vintage-clothing lover, band T-shirt wearer, and everyone in-between. It's hard to leave the store empty handed.
- Victoria Valenzuela, The Gazette
- Updated
The unusually named business CO.A.T.I. Uprise, new to Tejon Street, is the brain child of the Atlas Restaurant group that their website says is meant to embody the spirit of the coati, known for its rebellious spirit that Atlas says mirrors Colorado Springs. The result of many conceptions is an industrial-style building with exposed brick and metal beams with colorful neon and natural lighting. A large entryway opens to a deconstructed food hall that spans the first and second floors. There are two bars and a stage to boot. Their weekly events are the best way to experience CO.A.T.I. Uprise in all its weird glory.
- Victoria Valenzuela, The Gazette
- Updated
The penny arcade ("Arcade Amusements, Inc.) in Manitou Springs is unlike any other attraction in Colorado. It started as a bingo parlor in the 1930s named "Bingo Jack's." But when laws restricted bingo, the parlor transformed into an arcade. Today, several buildings, including the Bingo Jack's parlor, house hundreds of games. Some are a century year old, appealing to the young and old while drawing both locals and tourists.
- Victoria Valenzuela, The Gazette
- Updated
In 1973, Leon Gardner wanted to make a "living monument" to pizza based on his very own “mountain lore.” The lore tells the story of Fargo and Sophia- star-crossed lovers who opened an Italian restaurant 100 years ago, introducing pizza to the Colorado territory. To accompany the story, a peculiar mix of Victorian Era decadence and Wild West folksiness covers the building - a mismatch of authentic and handcrafted pieces that makes Fargo’s Pizza Co. a distinguishable business. Nothing says weird like Fargo and Sophia wax figures sitting at a table on a second-floor balcony in the full view of customers, a self-playing piano, and magic mirrors that display ticket order numbers.
- Victoria Valenzuela, The Gazette
- Updated
As the name "Cronk Arts & Curiosities" suggests, this shop is anything but normal. From the red velvet couch, curious things like a live tarantula and a double-faced baby doll encased in glass can be seen. Cronk Arts & Curiosities may be too weird for some, but those who are fans of the curious are sure to enjoy what they have to offer and feel right at home.
- Victoria Valenzuela, The Gazette
- Updated
A single building in downtown Colorado Springs contains four businesses of Richard Skorman: Poor Richard's Book Store and Gift Store, Rico's Café, Little Richard's Toy Store and Poor Richard's restaurant. The four-in-one location makes what is collectively known as Poor Richard's Downtown a rare site and a unique experience. Whether you go to only one or all four, you are sure to leave pleased.
- Victoria Valenzuela, The Gazette
- Updated
The Novis Mortem Collective specializes in entomological fine art, specimens, and taxidermy, which are three products that don't typically go together. But the Collective's products combine the weird with the beautiful, using bright blue butterflies and Edison lightbulbs to create whimsical conversation pieces that brighten any space or make an intriguing gift.
- Victoria Valenzuela, The Gazette
- Updated
Weird perfectly describes this casual fine dining establishment that’s a local and out-of-towner favorite, The Rabbit Hole. They encourage you to “come as you are” to dine on rabbit meatloaf and buffalo ribs, which are two of its menu favorites. One of the most intriguing aspects of the restaurant is its location- underground. Patrons descent into "the rabbit hole," entering through a subway-style doorway for a dining experience unlike any other.
- Victoria Valenzuela, The Gazette
- Updated
In Colorado Springs’ backyard lies the North Pole, where Santa’s Workshop is located. It's a small amusement park came to fruition in the 1950s, dreamt up by an 8-year-old in the 1940s, and built by a former Walt Disney artist, Arto Monaco, 10 years later. Over the years, Santa’s Workshop has changed, but its spirit has always remained strong. It is one of the few places where Christmas is celebrated from May to December.
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- Victoria Valenzuela, The Gazette
Leechpit Records & Vintage has been keeping Colorado Springs "lame" for about 20 years. Ran by the Leech family, the store is full of decades-old items in mint condition. Their store is a dream come true for any toy collector, music enthusiast, vintage-clothing lover, band T-shirt wearer, and everyone in-between. It's hard to leave the store empty handed.
- Victoria Valenzuela, The Gazette
The unusually named business CO.A.T.I. Uprise, new to Tejon Street, is the brain child of the Atlas Restaurant group that their website says is meant to embody the spirit of the coati, known for its rebellious spirit that Atlas says mirrors Colorado Springs. The result of many conceptions is an industrial-style building with exposed brick and metal beams with colorful neon and natural lighting. A large entryway opens to a deconstructed food hall that spans the first and second floors. There are two bars and a stage to boot. Their weekly events are the best way to experience CO.A.T.I. Uprise in all its weird glory.
- Victoria Valenzuela, The Gazette
The penny arcade ("Arcade Amusements, Inc.) in Manitou Springs is unlike any other attraction in Colorado. It started as a bingo parlor in the 1930s named "Bingo Jack's." But when laws restricted bingo, the parlor transformed into an arcade. Today, several buildings, including the Bingo Jack's parlor, house hundreds of games. Some are a century year old, appealing to the young and old while drawing both locals and tourists.
- Victoria Valenzuela, The Gazette
In 1973, Leon Gardner wanted to make a "living monument" to pizza based on his very own “mountain lore.” The lore tells the story of Fargo and Sophia- star-crossed lovers who opened an Italian restaurant 100 years ago, introducing pizza to the Colorado territory. To accompany the story, a peculiar mix of Victorian Era decadence and Wild West folksiness covers the building - a mismatch of authentic and handcrafted pieces that makes Fargo’s Pizza Co. a distinguishable business. Nothing says weird like Fargo and Sophia wax figures sitting at a table on a second-floor balcony in the full view of customers, a self-playing piano, and magic mirrors that display ticket order numbers.
- Victoria Valenzuela, The Gazette
As the name "Cronk Arts & Curiosities" suggests, this shop is anything but normal. From the red velvet couch, curious things like a live tarantula and a double-faced baby doll encased in glass can be seen. Cronk Arts & Curiosities may be too weird for some, but those who are fans of the curious are sure to enjoy what they have to offer and feel right at home.
- Victoria Valenzuela, The Gazette
A single building in downtown Colorado Springs contains four businesses of Richard Skorman: Poor Richard's Book Store and Gift Store, Rico's Café, Little Richard's Toy Store and Poor Richard's restaurant. The four-in-one location makes what is collectively known as Poor Richard's Downtown a rare site and a unique experience. Whether you go to only one or all four, you are sure to leave pleased.
- Victoria Valenzuela, The Gazette
The Novis Mortem Collective specializes in entomological fine art, specimens, and taxidermy, which are three products that don't typically go together. But the Collective's products combine the weird with the beautiful, using bright blue butterflies and Edison lightbulbs to create whimsical conversation pieces that brighten any space or make an intriguing gift.
- Victoria Valenzuela, The Gazette
Weird perfectly describes this casual fine dining establishment that’s a local and out-of-towner favorite, The Rabbit Hole. They encourage you to “come as you are” to dine on rabbit meatloaf and buffalo ribs, which are two of its menu favorites. One of the most intriguing aspects of the restaurant is its location- underground. Patrons descent into "the rabbit hole," entering through a subway-style doorway for a dining experience unlike any other.
- Victoria Valenzuela, The Gazette
In Colorado Springs’ backyard lies the North Pole, where Santa’s Workshop is located. It's a small amusement park came to fruition in the 1950s, dreamt up by an 8-year-old in the 1940s, and built by a former Walt Disney artist, Arto Monaco, 10 years later. Over the years, Santa’s Workshop has changed, but its spirit has always remained strong. It is one of the few places where Christmas is celebrated from May to December.
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