Old Colorado City Associates (OCCA) is a business group open to any person or business conducting business in Old Colorado City and the historic Westside.
It’s a member-based, 501(c)(6) nonprofit that represents a bewildering variety of business sectors, including “Arcades, banking, beauty salons and barber shops, boutiques, breweries, pubs and speakeasies, coffee shops, financial planning, galleries, gift shops, insurance, libraries and museums, live performances, outdoor adventures, real estate, restaurants and tattoo parlors.”
Some have been in business for decades (e.g., Thunder & Buttons, Mother Muff’s/Meadow Muffins, Tapateria and Jake & Telly’s) and others for a few months.
The website encourages non-members to join.
“As a member, you will have the opportunity to network and connect with the business community and receive unique access to information on the latest projects and developments taking place in Old Colorado City. You will also receive unparalleled access to benefits, promotional tools, networking opportunities and personal assistance to help your business thrive.”
The cost? $250 annually, and 123 eligible businesses have signed up.
It’s a different twist on small-business capitalism, calling for cooperation as well as competition. That’s because Old Colorado City is a storied location that attracts customers not just from its neighborhood, but from the city, state and nation.
The loss of any of these customer bases would affect businesses, and that’s why OCCA exists. Individually, businesses can’t easily promote or sponsor significant events such as Territory Days. Acting collectively through OCCA, the sky’s the limit.
“We have a great new board for 2024/2025,” said Andrea Warner, the newly elected president of the OCCA Board and owner/broker at Colorado Peak Real Estate. “A lot of new perspectives are coming from a mix of merchants that represent a wide range of businesses on the avenue.
“OCCA is moving forward as an organization that promotes and represents the business in Old Colorado City. We will continue to preserve the historic value of the area and encourage growth and participation within the organization. We will continue to provide value and look for ways to activate the Avenue at the benefit of our merchants.
“Collaboration is key to that success and OCCA looks forward to strengthening those relationships and building new ones.”
For example, OCCA’s website (shopoldcoloradocity.com) is an important source of information for visitors to Old Colorado City. The website’s business page includes the name, address, phone number, business profile, website, social media links and a photo gallery of every member business.
OCCA-sponsored community events bring more than 100,000 people to Old Colorado City and the surrounding neighborhood annually.
Membership dues amount to about $30,000, but OCCA is principally funded by special event revenue. Territory Days nets about $45,000 annually, but other large community events such as First Friday Art Walk, OCC in Bloom, Aspens on the Avenue, Pumpkins in the Park, Christmas Stroll and Santa’s Cabin are also significant revenue generators.
OCCA’s most recent form 990 is available online, summarizing the organization’s revenue, assets and liabilities.
For 2022, OCCA reported $491,982 in total revenue, program service revenue of $414,027 and total expenses of $466,447. End-of-year total assets were $289,196, total liabilities $69,556, and net assets of $219,640. Last year was reportedly stronger, and 2024 may be even better.
Collaboration is key. – Andrea Warner
“It’s going to be a great business year,” Warner noted. “They’ve already sold out all the vendor spaces for Territory Days.”
Julie Fabrizio, a fellow board member who owns longtime OCC business the Holly Leaf, is less sanguine.
“People aren’t happy,” she said, noting that pedestrian traffic has been notably light and that many merchants have experienced declining sales.
“I’ve seen it a lot worse,” said Mazie Baalman, who owns Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, another iconic OCC business. “It’s not as good as it was a couple of years ago, but in 2008 it was much worse.
“I’m not scared to bits yet. I think people will get out and come here — it’s not like going to a mall!”
