The Tattered Cover declared bankruptcy in October, closing three stores and laying off at least 27 employees. While it takes steps to reorganize its debt and hopefully regain its standing as the queen of Colorado independent bookstores, remember that you can still show your love through purchases at our dear Tattered, as well as these other shops across the Front Range.
My newest favorite: , located at 129 N. Harrison Ave. in the Lumberyards shopping center in Old Town Lafayette. It’s a charming little bookstore, gift shop and cafe that’s women-owned and has an old-time Western general store feel.
If you’d rather shop for books online, skip that giant shopping website and try bookshop.org, which was unveiled just before COVID-19 hit. It’s an ally to small, independent stores, helping them preserve their profits. says that it’s earned $28 million for independent stores to date.
Here’s a comprehensive list of other indies in Colorado.
(In alphabetical order:)
, 5172 N. Academy Blvd., Colorado Springs
, 3890 S. Federal Blvd., Englewood
, 504 Main St., Longmont
, 1200 Pearl St., Boulder
(music, books, movies and board games), 7821 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada
, 4315 E. Mississippi Ave. (moving in 2024), Denver
, 7580 Grant Place, Arvada
, 2925 S. College Ave., Fort Collins
, 15075 E. Mississippi Ave., Aurora
, 2243 S. Peoria,Aurora
, 4061 E. Wesley Ave., Denver
, 10840 S. 44th Ave., Wheat Ridge
, 11211 Dransfeldt Road, Parker
, 3175 28th St., Boulder
, 1737 S. Eighth St., Colorado Springs
, 1107 Pearl St., Boulder
, 316 S. Broadway, Denver
, 300 E. Colfax Ave., Denver
, 3461 S. Broadway, Englewood
, 105 Second St., Monument
, 4455 Grape St., Denver
, 1119 W. Drake Road, Fort Collins
, 1415 S. Broadway, Denver
, 3042 Evergreen Parkway, Evergreen
, 290 Fillmore St., Denver
, 12 E. Bijou, Colorado Springs
, 624 E. 13th Ave., Denver
, 1201 Pearl St., Boulder
, 142 E. Elkhorn Ave., Estes Park
, 2 S. Broadway St., Denver
, 232 Walnut St., Fort Collins
, 4620 E. 23rd Ave., Denver
, 19402 E. Mainstreet, Parker
, 320 N. Tejon St., Colorado Springs
, 1416 S. Broadway
, 129 N. Harrison Ave., Lafayette
, 1430 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood
, 1455 S. Pearl St., Denver
, 2134 Market St., Denver
, 25797 Conifer Road, Conifer
, 221 Perry St., Castle Rock
, 2526 E. Colfax Ave.; 1701 Wynkoop St. (Union Station); Aspen Grove, Littleton; Tattered Cover KIDS at Stapleton, Aurora; Tattered Cover Book Store at DIA
, 346 Main St., Longmont
, 198 Second Ave., Niwot
, 3434 W. 32nd Ave.
, 631 W. Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs
, 631 Birch St., Windsor
