The End of and Era: Beavers Market Changes Ownership

This has not been widely publicized over the past few weeks, but for many Old Town locals, the buzz around the streets has known that Beavers Market, an independently owned, small, corner grocery store, would soon be changing ownership.

An icon and heart of Old Town West Fort Collins

Beavers market has become so much more than just a grocery store for locals however. This establishment is one of the few that has seemed to stand the test of time, and provides more than just a place to gather your occasional grocery item. To me at least, it has been the beating heart of Old Town for as long as I have known. For as much as many residents have pined for the older days before Fort Collins really started to grow, Beavers market has been the same casual spot in Old Town where you could catch a friendly smile, and see the same faces many times that you went in. It certainly has won the affinity of many resident for its convenience and small town charm, as well as for its awesome homemade brats and sausage.

The owners of Beavers Market officially put out a statement via facebook today and is as follows:

“A letter to our customers,

Today we hung up our blue aprons for the last time. It has been such an honor serving Northern FoCo for over 50 years! This community has been loyal and supportive to us through all these years, and we will forever be grateful.

We have reached a point in our lives where it is time to say goodbye to the long hours and responsibility of owning and operating the store and say hello to our next chapter of life. Please know that this is one of the most difficult things we have ever done. The store, our employees and our customers have meant everything to us, and it is extremely bittersweet to say goodbye.

We have poured our hearts and soul into Beavers Market and words will never express how much it means to us and to our family. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being part of our journey.

Having a small, family-owned grocery store here is very special and we hope that you embrace the new owners with all the support and kindness you have shown us over the years.

We appreciate you all and are excited for what comes next!”

Sincerely,

Doug, Cheryl and Bryan Beavers

Photo courtesy of Beavers Market Official Facebook Page

The good news is that Beavers Market has been sold to another grocer who intends on running it as a grocery store as opposed to developing the site. According to a nextdoor thread, in which a Beavers Market employee chimed in quickly on any rumors, Beavers market will become the 4th small town grocery store that the new owners have purchased, including two stores named “Fresh Foods” in Torrington, WY and Gering, NE, as well as one other store in in Brush, CO that kept its original name of “Brush Grocery Cart” To me, that is positive news as I doubt that many Old Town Fort Collins residents would like to see the store grossly change from what it has been over the decades. I do expect that we may see some changes in the upcoming months, and I can only hope that the new owners give the location the respect it deserves (and keep that amazing sausage coming!)