Shop Small, Shop Local: 2023 Colorado Springs Holiday Gift Guide
If you’re looking for ways to shop small and support local businesses in Colorado Springs this winter, we’ve got a holiday gift guide that can help. We’ve compiled a list of some of the top shops for finding the perfect gift for friends, family, employees, coworkers — or even yourself.
Table of Contents
Food & Wine Gifts
Food and wine make great gifts for pretty much anyone. They are especially great for giftees who aren’t big on collecting new items to store, dust or wear — because they are consumable and eventually run out. The shops on this list can help you narrow down their massive selection of great foods to tailor your gift to your recipient.
Wine is an easy win for most gift givers. Even people who don’t drink it get excited because they can secretly regift it to someone else later on. Manitou Winery, however, takes wine gifting to the next level with the option for custom batches your gift recipient can design themselves. They’ll have the opportunity to create a blend using the winery’s house varietals and then host a bottling party with 12 of their favorite people (hopefully you will be one of them). Manitou Winery even helps customers craft custom labels for the bottles. Anywhere from two to four months later, a batch of 14 or 28 bottles will appear, ready for parties, fancy dinners and, hopefully, gifting back to their generous wine benefactors (that’s you).
When in doubt about what foods to get that discerning home chef, you can’t go wrong with spices. Gather Food Studio and Spice Shop is located on the outskirts of Old Colorado City just west of I-25 and Downtown Colorado Springs. It offers shelf after shelf of bulk spices and shop-made blends to choose from — including popular holiday seasonings and gift sets. Gather doesn’t just create great spices, either. They also offer cooking classes. Gift a class to that friend who has been aching to master creating the perfect pecan pie or spice up their weekly meal rotation.
Located in the heart of Old Colorado City, the British Pantry is filled with treats and gifts from the UK. Teas, tasty snacks, novelty gifts and more are available, including rare frozen and refrigerated goods that are all the rage across the pond. One of their best offerings is a wide selection of delicate tea sets, complete with pots, cups and saucers, as well as single-serving cup/pot combos. You can even give the gift of one of the shop’s weekend high teas, which include finger sandwiches, choice of tea and a tower of tiny desserts.
Located in Black Forest in a tiny cottage across the highway from the Backyard Market (the farmers market is closed for the season), Cotton Blossom Caramel is a charming shop packed with handcrafted caramel treats. You can find jars of seasonal caramel sauce, like pumpkin gingersnap, or custom creations like smokey bourbon blackberry. Caramel candy abounds, as well as the confectionary’s greatest creation, caramel trifles. Layers of house-made marshmallow are coated with Cotton Blossom’s signature caramel and then toppings like crunchy pecans. Owner and candymaker Liz Deen recommends refrigerating the trifle to add even more magic to the treat. Pick up a few jars of caramel for gifts and a parfait for the road (or vice versa).
Outdoor & Recreation
The great outdoors are always in, especially when you live somewhere as lovely as Colorado. Shopping for adventurers might seem intimidating at first, especially if you aren’t into the same activities as your gift recipient. The stores below are great not just for their selection, but for the knowledge of their staff and their willingness to help you find the right present.
Located along Highway 24 as you head into the mountains, Angler’s Covey is perfectly positioned for outdoor enthusiasts on their way to their next big catch. It’s also a great location for buying gifts for your favorite fisherfolk. The store is huge, with options for every imaginable type of fishing. It boasts an inventory of over 10,000 items, 100 of which are just fly rods. Speaking of flies, they offer fly-tying classes and a vast collection of ready-to-purchase flies, as well. We highly recommend you get exact specifications from your giftee when buying fishing equipment. Some anglers can be very selective about their gear. When in doubt, give a gift certificate. They’ll understand why the second they walk in the door and realize it will take hours to look through everything Angler’s Covey has to offer. By the way, the shop also sells fly fishing lessons and guided excursions if you want to go big.
From the rivers to the trees — outdoor fun is not just restricted to fishing in Colorado. That’s where Mountain Chalet steps in. This outdoor sport and apparel shop has been outfitting Colorado Springs residents and visitors for more than 50 years and it hasn’t slowed down yet. Mountain Chalet offers just about anything you could ask for when gifting your favorite hiker, rock climber, mountain biker or general nature enthusiast. We’re talking shoes, shorts, hats, gloves, backpacks, poles and more. They’ll even print custom maps that are both tear-proof and waterproof, which is perfect for navigating the forests and mountains in every phase of Colorado’s unpredictable weather. Mountain Chalet is also a great stop for stocking stuffers like carabiners, protein bars and Colorado-themed merch like hats and stickers.
If you know a cyclist, you know their bike is their bestie. Criterium Bicycles is a Colorado Springs bike shop devoted to nurturing that friendship with great gear, repair and upgrade services and, of course, bicycles. Score cool accessories like headlights, rearview mirrors, helmets, riding gloves, bike baskets and sunglasses, or splurge on that brand-new bike your loved one has been test-riding and dreaming of for years. The crew at Criterion is knowledgeable and extremely helpful when it comes to finding the right bike, the best helmet or the perfect set of gear bags for your cyclist.
Apparel & Accessories
Apparel and accessories are easy and affordable gifts for anyone on your list. We’ve compiled a list of great clothing shops in Colorado Springs with a knack for style and a wide variety of options that will suit every price point.
If you’re looking for a beautiful dress or unique accessories, Legrande Accents Boutique is the premiere location to visit for great holiday gift ideas. Located in Manitou Springs, Legrande is wall-to-wall fashion, with whimsical prints, eclectic jewelry and beautiful apparel in every corner of the shop. The atmosphere is incredibly fun; you’ll feel like you’re shopping in a Victorian dress shop even as you peruse trendy, modern styles. Even better, the whole store is color coordinated. You find all of the little black dresses and accessories in one location, all the pink gear in another, and so-on. The associates are really helpful, with great fashion sense and a lot of enthusiasm for helping shoppers.
Local, sustainable and handmade are the core tenets of Eclectic Co., a local shop in Downtown Colorado Springs that more than lives up to its name. The shop is comprised of small booths featuring artisan goods, curated vintage clothing, candles, jewelry, art and stationery. Every booth has a little something different to offer holiday shoppers, making it easy to knock out several gifts in a single trip. The most difficult part of shopping at Eclectic is not purchasing dozens of items for yourself. It’s good for makers, good for your loved ones and even good for the environment.
Local, sustainable and handmade are the core tenets of Eclectic Co., a local shop in Downtown Colorado Springs that more than lives up to its name. The shop is comprised of small booths featuring artisan goods, curated vintage clothing, candles, jewelry, art and stationery. Every booth has a little something different to offer holiday shoppers, making it easy to knock out several gifts in a single trip. The most difficult part of shopping at Eclectic is not purchasing dozens of items for yourself. It’s good for makers, good for your loved ones and even good for the environment.
Quirky & Unusual
Everyone has that one friend or family member who walks to the beat of their own drum … on a whole different planet in a distant galaxy. Shopping for these avant garde individuals isn’t as simple as buying a pair of fuzzy slippers or a new television. These folks need gifts as special as they are. These quirky gift shops deal in the different and shopping their wares will be as entertaining as it is fruitful.
Novis Mortem is the Lydia Deetz of Colorado Springs gift shops — strange and unusual. Located in Downtown Colorado Springs, Novice Mortem is an oddity collective that offers handmade art, jewelry and gifts from local makers. How odd are we talking? One display, created by exotic animal shop Scales n’ Tails, contains more than a dozen live tarantulas and insects in individual habitats. The walls in the shop are covered with spooky art, and the shelves contain a huge collection of entomological fine art — insect specimens mounted in carefully constructed habitats and housed under glass. Taxidermy and other specimens are also available for purchase. Novice Mortem is a perfect shop for your loved ones who like to live on the darker side of life. It embraces the scary, the weird and the wonderful and shares it passionately with the world. Frankly, it’s worth a stop just to enjoy the art.
Plants, plants and more plants! Hapke’s Hortem is the place to shop for the plant parents in your lives. Thanks to TikTok and enthusiastic influencers, house plants are finally getting the spotlight they deserve. Hapke’s Hortem has seized the day in this botanical celebration, opening up an elegant shop in Old Colorado City featuring both common and rare house plants for purchase. The shop sells terrarium kits, succulents, air plants, orchids, snake plants, spider plants, hanging baskets and plenty of unusual options for the most selective of plant fans. They also have a wealth of (free) knowledge the staff is always ready to share, which means they can tell you if the plant you’re holding is a winner for your giftee or suggest a better option. Hapke’s also offers some really cool workshops where you can paint pots, create your own terrarium or pot new cuttings so you can also make a gift for your loved one and really up the wow factor.
Toys, Games & Collectibles
Do you have a gamer nerd in your life? A manga obsessed tween? Hilarious kiddos in need of toys or the latest Pokemon cards? These shops have everything you need to make their holiday special.
There are plenty of places to shop for comics, games and cards in Colorado Springs, but it’s hard to beat the selection available at Van’s. It might even be safe to say it’s impossible, since the owner can order just about anything your loved one’s card- or comic-collecting heart desires. If you know a tabletop gamer, Van’s will probably be the only place you need to go this holiday season. D&D books, Warhammer 40K mini-figs and cards, board games, card games, dice … if you can conceive of it, Van’s likely has it. It’s a favorite local card shop for Magic, Pokemon, Warhammer 40K and other popular deck-based games. The walls that aren’t covered with games are covered with shelves of trade backs for popular comics like Spider-man, Batman and X-men, plus series that go beyond traditional superhero comics, like The Walking Dead. Then there are the rows of boxes packed with carefully protected individual comics, including rare editions and the latest issues of all your comic enthusiast’s favorite series.
Escape Velocity may not be as massive as Van’s, but they have a lot to offer comic lovers in Colorado Springs. One of the best features of Escape Velocity is their showcasing of local talent. You can find comics, books and graphic novels from Colorado Springs and Colorado authors, which takes you to a whole new level of shopping local. Escape Velocity also has a great selection of kid comics and kid manga. They even group them by age so shoppers who aren’t savvy to the genre don’t accidentally buy a manga or comic that is too mature for the reader. When in doubt, their staff can easily help you pick a great gift — their knowledge of comics is vast and they love to share new series and authors with customers. Pop in on weekends during the holiday season, and you’ll also get the chance to meet the occasional guest vendor selling their comic and gaming wares.
Theo’s Toys is a family-owned toy store near the Manitou Arcade in Manitou Springs. It is packed with a variety of toys, tabletop games and vintage collectibles that are sure to spark a fire in the heart of any toy-loving nerd. Yes, that includes rare Star Wars toys and collectibles. Theo’s is a rare opportunity to enjoy an authentic toy store experience you don’t see much outside of the aisles of big box stores or the occasional holiday pop-up shop. While they do offer the option to purchase online, they’ve held on to the magic of a brick and mortar store packed with wonder for both children and adults. Check out their collection of old-school toys for super fun stocking stuffers. You would be surprised at the number of kids who are still excited to discover a yo-yo tucked amongst the candy or a hula-hoop leaning against the wall.
Books
Readers are probably the easiest people to shop for and Colorado Springs has a couple bookstores that really pride themselves on cherishing the experience of reading a physical book.
Hooked on Books is a used and new bookstore with two locations in Colorado Springs. There’s a shop downtown, and one on Maizeland Road off of Academy Boulevard near Palmer Park. The latter features a large selection of science fiction and romance. Because they sell predominantly used books in those genres, you will be able to purchase older series that are hard to find in brick and mortar locations or out of print altogether. They do offer an excellent selection of reasonably priced new books, too. Both locations sell rare books, too. Think rare early books from now-mainstream authors, pulp fiction and books more than 100+ years old from classic authors. Hooked on Books is the place to go if your beloved bookworm is always on the hunt for that hard-to-find novel or if they have shelves overflowing with books they read over and over again. The staff is also extremely helpful when it comes to checking inventory and helping you narrow down your search in their well-organized but massive inventory. Did we mention the prices? The used books are very affordable, especially considering the great condition they are in.
Poor Richard’s is a sweeping set of stores in Downtown Colorado Springs featuring a book shop, coffee shop, wine bar, toy store and restaurant. The bookshop portion of the location offers shoppers both brand-new books and popular bestsellers, as well as a rather large collection of used books and even some rare and collectible books. Like Escape Velocity, you’ll be able to find a few Colorado authors tucked in amongst the shelves, too. Mixed among the books you will also find additional options for stocking stuffers, accessories and even art supplies. Pop over into the toy store next door and you’ll also find a selection of children’s books for the children who are still into turning pages and collecting their favorite books.
Pets
Readers are probably the easiest people to shop for and Colorado Springs has a couple bookstores that really pride themselves on cherishing the experience of reading a physical book.
Keeping your animals healthy is a priority for most pet parents — and for Mike’s Natural Pet Market. This popular pet supply shop offers healthy foods made of natural products. No fillers and additives, no mystery products, just good, nourishing food and treats your pet will love. On top of all the natural options for snacks and meals, Mike’s also has gear, toys, beds and more to show your appreciation for your furry, feathery and scaly best friends. Get your dog a cozy new sweater or treat your cat to a catnip toy. Or upgrade your leash or collar to make walking extra spiffy.
With an extensive inventory packed into a little shop on Manitou Avenue in Manitou Springs, GiGi’s has worked hard to rein supreme as a gift shop geared entirely toward pets. The selection is simply incredible. Gigi’s has everything you need to spoil your pets, from adorable, handmade treats to shirts that rep your love for your animal friends. There are toys galore in the shop, from squeakers and softies to chew toys and pull ropes. They also offer figurines, humorous signs, coasters and pictures so you or your giftee can take a reminder of your pet with you to the office or anywhere else you can think of.
Memberships and Experiences
Gift memberships and gifted experiences.
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is unlike any other zoo in North America. It’s tucked into the side of a mountain! Zoo trips are a great way to entertain kids, but they can get pricey if you have a larger family. Gifting a membership can provide an entire year of entertainment for a family that also happens to be educational and outdoors. The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo offers multiple options that include upgrades like rides or bringing in extra guests and includes a couple free passes in every purchase. Your loved ones need only pack a picnic and a few dollars for feeding the giraffes and they have a fun and very affordable adventure courtesy of you. We recommend the family plus membership that allows a free extra visitor on every trip. Your recipients will be able to bring a friend along for the fun free of charge, making it easy to add the occasional bonus kid or favorite auntie to the outing.
The Fine Arts Center is more than just an art museum. It’s a whole complex of art-focused activities including specialty art shows, art classes, theater performances, youth outreach and much more. Gifting a membership to the Fine Arts Center not only benefits your recipient with free admission to the gallery and discounts on shows and art classes, it supports the programs that help the community, like art classes for veterans or scholarships for the Youth Repertory program. You can also gift subscriptions to the theater, which will treat the recipient to an entire season of shows.
Do you have classical music aficionado in your life? The Colorado Springs Philharmonic offers subscriptions to multiple series in their concert season. Score tickets for classical shows featuring music from greats like Beethoven and Rachmaninaff or buy a season of the Philharmonic Pops series, which has great shows celebrating the marriage of symphony and popular culture. You can even design your own package for your recipient, selecting tickets to shows you know they’ll love all year long.
It's Time To Get Gifting!
These local businesses are ready to help you become the Santa of your dreams with the perfect gift for every person in your life. Even better, when you support them, you’re supporting their families and the community at large by keeping your dollars close to home. In closing, we would like to wish everyone a happy holiday season and an even happier New Year!
