Fort Collins would not Thrive without Small Businesses
Taking a stroll down Old Town, it’s not hard to get lost in the little shops and cafes that line the streets. Whether it’s a sunny Sunday afternoon, or a Friday night taking in the winter Holiday Lights, Old Town is truly the heart of the college town. The way the downtown is able to shift from the hustle and bustle of college students to relaxed morning brunches appears seamless. Why is that? Surely, it’s not the Starbuck on the corner of Walnut and College, but rather Alley Cat Coffeehouse. Surely, it’s not Chipotle but rather Maggie’s Tacos. Without these small, locally owned businesses, Fort Collins would not be the place everyone makes it to be.
In 2017, The Coloradoan reported that over 91% of businesses in Fort Collins have fewer than 20 employees. Colorado, in general, is home to 653,000 small businesses; which accounts for about 99.5% of all Colorado businesses. That’s huge. These numbers prove to others who are considering starting a small business that it is worth the time and money invested. Take OtterBox for example; the company is Fort Collins born and raised and still continues its operations here today. However, it’s not the big names making an impact on the town, it’s the small ones.
The shops, ranging from classic tourist knickknacks to vintage clothing pieces that can’t be found anywhere else, provide something for everyone. As much as CSU students love the clothes at Ragstock, Wear it Again, Sam provides unique options for everyone. Little Piece of My Heart provides both funky outfits and accessories. And who could forget Curiosities and their eclectic trinkets? The shops provide a little something for everyone.
After a long day of shopping, walking into LuLu Asian Bistro for pad thai is a godsend. Venturing a little further outside Old Town, down College Avenue, Maggie’s Tacos food truck serves the best Mexican street food found ANYWHERE in Colorado (I guarantee it).
“$6 for a burrito is a bargain you won’t find anywhere else,” Cole Stephens a CSU senior, said. “Maggie’s has, hands down, the best Mexican [food] in Fort Collins and is overall one of my favorite places to eat in town.”
Continuing to explore outside of Old Town will bring you to iconic Fort Collins spots, such as scoring a chicken sandwich from Music City Hot Chicken. Or maybe you’ll even run into Krazy Karls, the unofficial-official pizza place of Colorado State University students.
Overall, these gems, and many more, cannot be found outside of Fort Collins. As much as students and life-long residents alike love chains such as Noodles and Company, Cheba Hut, and Dutch Bros. At the end of the day, they are chains, found spread across Colorado. What makes this town truly unique, AND allows it to THRIVE, is that although the students come from around the world, and study hundreds of different subjects, they are all connected through one thing. This town. This town boasts hundreds of different hole-in-the-wall restaurants, quirky shops, and offers endless adventures to try something new. Without these small businesses, Fort Collins wouldn’t feel as special. Fort Collins would not be a student’s home away from home.
