While our hometown has become famous for beers, bikes and bands, we think Fort Collins also deserves a shoutout for its support of local, small business. Our creators, designers, artists, entrepreneurs, distillers, roasters and hot sauce makers have created some of the state’s best and highest quality products. That means you can enjoy the best while also shopping locally!
We rounded up some of our favorite Fort Collins storefronts so you can build the perfect care packages and gift baskets. Many of these businesses have online stores, too, so you can build your basket without leaving your home!
Akinz
15 Old Town Square #132 | Online store
Photo courtesy of Brianne Janae Photography via Akinz
Akinz is a lifestyle brand for stylish adventurers. Their handcrafted goods are produced in the flagship Fort Collins store from hand-printed shirts to handmade beanies and everything in between. Inspired by the Colorado lifestyle (think snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking, great beer and great friends), their goods highlight mountains, wildlife, Colorado pride and craft brews. You can shop online here or visit their storefront in Old Town Square!
Bean Cycle Roasters
144 N College Ave | Online store
A landmark of Old Town, Bean Cycle has been a part of our community since 2004. Both a roaster and a coffee shop, the team shares their space today with Half Crown Creative and Singularity to provide our community a place where we can drink coffee, hang out, think, collaborate and shop local makers. That makes it the perfect place to pick up a bag of local coffee and an extra, local gift for your gift basket!
For more local coffee roasters, check out The Best Roasters Based in Northern Colorado.
CopperMuse
244 N College Ave #105 | Online store
CopperMuse was the original business operating out of what is now The Exchange. They build upon Fort Collins’ legendary craft beer heritage and apply that love of craft to distillation. Their handcrafted spirits include vodka, whiskey, rum and unique liqueurs, which can all be tasted in the Old Town tasting room. Here, they offer artisan cocktails and infusions alongside a chef-inspired food menu of tapas, salads and panini sandwiches. You can also pick up a bottle of one of their outstanding spirits, an etched glass and other merch to make your gift basket pop.
CSU Ram Zone
172 N College Ave | Online store
As the official store of the Colorado State Rams, the on-campus CSU Bookstore and off-campus CSU Ram Zone stores are the perfect places to get CSU gear. In Fort Collins, you can shop in person at the historic Northern Hotel in Old Town and the store also features a unique sound sculpture! Pick up shirts, sweatshirts, hats, keychains, home decor, gear and more.
The Cupboard
152 S College Ave | Online store
At The Cupboard, they believe the kitchen is the heart of the home and should be filled with the decor and the appliances to prove it. At the team’s huge store in Old Town, you can find even the most specific kitchen items alongside books, local Fort Collins products and more. Though you can’t shop their products online, you can purchase The Cupboard gift cards online here.
Horsetooth’d
5748 S College Ave Unit D | Online store
Photo courtesy of Horsetooth’d
At Hoorsetooth’d, they care about Colorado, Fort Collins and originality. That makes their inventory some of the best when you want to show off your love for our hometown! They create and sell high-quality vinyl stickers, hats, local t-shirts, hoodies, insulated bottles, mugs, art prints and more. To shop online, click here, or stop by in person at Explorado Market.
Horsetooth Hot Sauce
Slinging great hot sauce since 2008, Horsetooth Hot Sauce was named after Horsetooth Rock in Fort Collins and is driven by a brother and sister team with a passion for flavor. In step with their Chicago-influenced thoughts on hot sauce, they combine simple heat with great flavor for amazing hot sauces, barbecue sauces and Bloody Mary mixes. You can shop online here or click here to find them in a store near you.
KNAPSACK
KNAPSACK is a stylish lifestyle shop in Jessup Farm Artisan Village with an inventory of home and supply goods for everyday living. From candles and kitchen accessories to stationery and baby essentials, they have everything you need to make your life easier and more stylish! They also carry a huge inventory of funny, cute and quirky cards—perfect for your care package!
Ku Cha House of Tea
128 S College Ave | Online store
What started as a small shop in Boulder in 2005, has now grown to a Colorado original with locations in Downtown Fort Collins and Cherry Creek North in Denver. In the Old Town shop, you can peruse hundreds of teas, teaware and gifts, and every tea has information about its flavors, origins and legends. When you shop online here, you can check out similar inventory and even blend your own tea online!
Nuance Chocolate
Nuance Chocolate creates small-batch, bean-to-bar chocolates made straight from cocoa beans roasted and ground inside their Old Town facility. You can pick up these delicious and authentic creations in the form of fresh truffles, single-origin and flavored bars, hot chocolate, and more! To see their online inventory, click here.
Old Town Spice Shop
130 S College Ave A | Online store
As you look through shelves and shelves of sweet, savory, spicy and inventive blends in this Old Town shop, you may find you’ve spent your entire shopping day in one place, but that’s not a bad thing! From teas and coffees to salts and sugars, they have something for every kitchen and many of the spices are freshly ground in the store. To preview their inventory and shop online, click here.
The Right Card
The Right Card, a locally owned and operated shop in Old Town Square, has been in continuous operation since 1985. Their team curates a selection of cards and gifts you won’t find anywhere else, from snarky tea towels and fancy wine carriers to funny books and cute stuffed animals. Though they don’t have an online store, it’s the perfect place to pick up a local card for your care package. You can also follow them on Facebook here.
Rocky Mountain Olive Oil Company
123 N College Ave #170 | Online store
Since opening in 2011, Rocky Mountain Olive Oil has become an Old Town favorite. The store is operated by Nichole and Lindsey Crisanti who have curated an inventory of small-batch, non-GMO and preservative-free oils and vinegars with no artificial color, gluten or added sugars. The store offers an exciting and flavorful shopping experience alongside outstanding products. To shop online, click here.
Wander Coffee
Photo courtesy of Kyle Kmetz via Wander Coffee
As avid nature lovers and coffee lovers, the small team at this family-operated micro-roastery makes coffees driven by four core values: quality, sustainability, integrity and community. So, when you sip a cup of Wander, you know you’re sipping coffee that has traveled the world in the best ways and shows off that global character through careful roasting. We love their coffee for a gift basket because they sell it in 4-ounce sample bags, half-pound bags, full-pound and five-pound bags! And each one has Fort Collins, Colorado stamped right on the tag.
To find more local coffee roasters, check out The Best Roasters Based in Northern Colorado.
The Welsh Rabbit
Photo courtesy of The Welsh Rabbit
The team behind The Welsh Rabbit now operates the original cheese shop and a modern bistro right around the corner, and both have become hallmarks of Old Town Fort Collins. In the shop, you’ll find a warm, welcoming space and a lot of cheese, including more than 50 options sourced globally, nationally and locally. Other inventory showcases cheese accessories like crackers, chocolate, fruit preserves, mustards, spreads, knives, hand-crafted cutting boards and more.
To learn more about the team, check out our story Meet the Team Behind The Welsh Rabbit in Fort Collins.
Wilbur’s Total Beverage
2201 S College Ave | Online store
Wilbur’s has been Fort Collins’ favorite spot for hunting down the best wine, craft beer and spirits since they opened their doors in 2004. It may not be hard to find these things in FoCo, but it is often hard to narrow down the choices—and the staff at Wilbur’s includes experts on that very subject. If your care package needs a Fort Collins craft beer, a Colorado wine or any other beer, wine or liquor from around the world, this is the place to go.
Do you love shopping local?
Tell us about your favorite Fort Collins stores, businesses and products in the comments below!
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