News News | 16 hrs ago
We go to sports stores to acquire skis and fishing poles and have many to choose from, but stores that specialize in sports evolved slowly in Aspen.
This description of fishing from the 1890 Aspen Times Daily suggests how popular the sport was in Aspen: “The favorite pastime in the mountains in the summertime is trout fishing. There is no other sport so innocent and amusing, so fascinating and at the same time so remunerative as catching fish. There is more genuine satisfaction in landing even a six-inch trout than in killing a bear or roping a buffalo.”
But, where could you buy your gear?
By 1885, you could find fishing gear at Mitchell and Crosby’s Corner Drug Store. In the 1890s, Carbary’s Book Store on Galena Street offered split bamboo rods for $2.50 and a complete line of fishing tackle. Carbary’s opened in 1881 but did not get into fishing gear until 1885. A.E. Jones Hardware Store also offered fishing equipment.
In 1909, the Aspen Times Daily, which liked to insert phrases between articles just for fun, said, ”Take a prospector’s pick along with your fishing rod.” You could buy your rod at Cooper’s Book Store for as low as $1.25. ($34 in today’s dollars). It also advertised “fishing tackle that’s fit for fishing.”
Twenty years later, Al Lamb’s drugstore got into the fishing-gear business advertising, ”Trout fishermen, we are ready for you!”
You might think that it wasn’t until ski facilities were built that stores sold both fishing gear and skis, but, in 1934, Tomkin’s Hardware on Galena Street sold both; so did Cooper’s Book Store.
Since the Aspen Ski Club began its ski operation in 1937, Aspen got its first “sports store,” Mike’s Shop created by Mike Magnifico. It specialized in ski clothing and skis, and he crafted ski boots, too. In the summer, he sold fishing items.
Magnifico’s shop was the first to have an annual fishing contest, catching the biggest trout, and rewarding the winner, in 1940, with the prize of a Granger Champion fishing rod valued at $11 ($192 in today’s dollars). My uncle, Frank Willoughby, was the winner in 1941, landing a 20-inch rainbow from Snowmass Lake. Mike’s name was changed to Magnifico Sports and later he sold to Sandy Sabbatini and it became Sabbatini’s.
After the Aspen Skiing Co. opened operations on Aspen Mountain, the number of stores that we would think of as sports stores that sold both fishing and skiing equipment began increasing. Bert Bidwell and Sandy Sabbatini opened the Mountain Shop in 1954. Like Mike’s, they expanded their inventory. Over the years, bicycles were added and a broader line of clothing.
Aspen Sports opened in 1953 and is still in business today. Aspen Sports was started by Steve Knowlton, who owned the nightclub the Golden Horn. He recruited Gale Spence, longtime coach for the Aspen Ski Club, and John Oakes to run the business. Knowlton located the store in a portion of his Golden Horn building. Spence and Oakes later bought out Knowlton and moved to the present location on East Cooper.
Spence and Oakes added a fishing contest for their store in 1954. Their version was landing the biggest fish on opening day with a $25 ($220 in today’s dollars) gift certificate to their store. The winner the first year was Tulia Lalli with a Brown trout caught on the Roaring Fork, weighing one pound, fourteen ounces.
Also in the 1950s, Elli of Aspen opened, mostly as a fashion boutique with ski clothes, but it also had a ski-rental shop that sold Head skis. Stein Eriksen Sport opened at the Aspen Highlands in 1958 and moved to Hyman Avenue in 1964. Ski racer Anderl Molterer opened his sports shop in 1963. Later (’60s-’70s), not counting Snowmass, the town added the Winter Shop, Guido’s Swiss Sport Shop, The Sport Shop at the Centre, Sporthaus Linder, and Bell Mountain Sports.
Tim Willoughby’s family story parallels Aspen’s. He began sharing folklore while teaching at Aspen Country Day School and Colorado Mountain College. Now a tourist in his native town, he views it with historical perspective. Reach him at redmtn2@comcast.net.
14 hrs ago
15 hrs ago
16 hrs ago
17 hrs ago
Jan 21, 2023
Part time Sales in a high end glass and crystal Gallery in Aspen. Looking for a motivated flexible person to…
Full-time position available for Apprentice Lineworker to Journey Lineworker. Responsible for the construction, repair, & maintenance of Holy Cross Energy’s…
Johnson Constuction is actively seeking a Project Manager and Field Superintendent with 3-5 years’ experience. Compensation is between $80,000 to…
Aspen Center for Environmental Studies Sustainable Agriculture Director About ACES: Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) is a non-profit environmental…
Front Desk Clerk/ Night clerk for a small family lodge in Aspen. Must be hardworking, reliable, flexible, willing to do…
Seeking Architects to work on dynamic residential projects in the Aspen Area. Small Office in the AABC. REVIT. A through…
Entry level $20/hour with $1 raise after a month. Fast paced position for Dog lovers only. Team player & responsible!…
Cook for residential women’s trauma/addiction center. Prepare 10 meals/week M-F, including prep, clean up, and keeping 15 person home stocked…
Campus Coordinator of Enrollment Services Colorado Mountain College Aspen Please go to: www.coloradomtn.edu/employment for more information. Under the general supervision…
Front desk manager and nurse/nurse estheticians needed for cutting edge regen therapy center offering IV therapy and regen treatments. Exciting…
What do you think of U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert’s role in the vote for the House speakership?
Loading …What do you think of U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert’s role in the vote for the House speakership?
View Results
Jobs
Classifieds
Autos
Real Estate
Rentals
Service Directory
Pets
Merchandise
Legals
Place Legal Ad
Search Legal Ads
Farm & Ranch
Recreation
Announcements
Contact Us
Become a Carrier
Submissions
Submit an Obituary
Advertise
Archives
Newsletters
Buy Photos
Commercial Print Sales
RSS
Aspen E-edition
Snowmass E-edition
Cookie List
Do not sell my personal information
Breckenridge – Summit County
Craig – Moffat County
Glenwood Springs – Rifle
Park City – Utah
Steamboat Springs – Routt County
Vail – Eagle Valley
Winter Park – Granby – Grand County
Aspen High School – Skier Scribbler
Printing Press Jobs
©2005 – 2023 Swift Communications, Inc.
