Featured Business on the Block: Candy's restores Boulder's love for vintage

Costume staple’s second location dedicated to the Wild West

This story originally ran in April.

Candy, the owner and creator of Candy’s Vintage Clothing Shop, claims she has no last name.

She began her Boulder clothing business in an abandoned chicken coop in 1977. Now, 30 years later, her vintage clothing shop at 4483 N. Broadway is a sparkling, vibrant pink building with smiling murals — a head turner for those passing by.

The shop specializes in vintage clothing, retro accessories and costumes. Some of the products are bought by Candy from customers, but Candy won’t tell anyone what other sources she uses to get her selection of products.

One CU student thinks wearing vintage clothing is on the rise here in Boulder.

“I see more and more people on campus wearing vintage clothing and jewelry,” said Clare Seldon, a freshman history major. “It seems like it is getting pretty popular to wear vintage stuff not only at parties, but on an everyday basis.”

Candy said she has had an interest in vintage clothing most of her life because she grew up wearing her grandmother’s old dresses. She learned how to sew and repair old clothing early on and went into clothing design during college.

“I like restoring older clothing,” Candy said. “There is something really rewarding in fixing something old and restoring it. Plus, they just don’t make clothing the way they used to.”

For vintage clothing to wear everyday, for a theme party or for Halloween, Candy said her store is the most funky and outrageous place to shop in Boulder.

“Candy’s is one of the only vintage stores in Boulder and it is one of the funkiest stores in Boulder. It has a lot of pizazz and soul,” she said. “People come in and goof off and have a good time.”

At least one student agrees that shopping at Candy’s is a lot of fun.

“I have been to Candy’s before with some friends and we had a lot of fun trying on costumes and wigs,” said Jake Lilevjen, a senior mechanical engineering major. “It is one of my favorite stores in Boulder.”

On top of being funky, Candy said her store has the best selection.

“Customers should call me and ask if I have what they need before running around to other stores where they might not find what they are looking for,” she said. “We have a lot of customers say that they couldn’t find what they were looking for anywhere else.”

If you are looking for the vintage cowboy or cowgirl look, Candy also opened a new vintage store this year specializing in Western wear and Western antiques three doors down from Candy’s Vintage Clothing Shop.

Check out Candy’s Web site for more information.