Shopping Guide

By Catherine Lutz
Updated November 2023

Contrary to some perceptions, there’s as much variety in Aspen Snowmass retail options as there is terrain on its four ski mountains and ways to enjoy nature.

Downtown Aspen is a shopper’s paradise, with a core of about a dozen very walkable blocks and more to explore in the vicinity. In Snowmass, three commercial hubs are oriented around the ski mountain. As for local flavor, there are over 50 locally owned stores in Aspen alone, and Snowmass Villagers have always prided themselves on their entrepreneurial community spirit.

It can be fun to wander the pedestrian friendly retail centers of Aspen Snowmass and discover what they have to offer — but it’s also helpful to know the lay of the land. Here’s what you have to look forward to.

For ski and snowboard rentals or to buy new equipment, ski shops in Aspen tend to be clustered near the Silver Queen Gondola Plaza, while in Snowmass most are close to the slopes on the Snowmass Mall or in Base Village. That includes Four Mountain Sports, which, as its name implies, has locations at the base of all four ski mountains (and offers the bonus of transferring your rental gear to the next day’s mountain for free).

You’ll also find top-of-the-line skiwear at many ski shops—places like Gorsuch, Performance, and Miller Sports trend toward high fashion, while high-tech is more the focus at Hamilton Sports, Aspen Sports, and Snowmass Sports. For high-end performance wear, accessories, and equipment, or a luxury rental experience, duck into Aspen Collection at the back of Aspen’s gondola plaza. Locally owned Radio Boardshop is Aspen’s only dedicated snowboard gear and outerwear store, and the Ute Mountaineer carries backcountry touring, telemark, and cross-country gear.

Speaking of local expertise, you’ll definitely want to consider Obermeyer (founded in Aspen in 1947) and Strafe (born at Aspen Highlands in 2010) for your snowsports outerwear needs—both are available at local retail outlets and Strafe has showrooms at Highlands and Snowmass. And several reputable international brands have local storefronts, including Helly Hansen and Moncler in Aspen and North Face and Patagonia in Snowmass.

Outside of winter, many ski shops turn their focus to biking, hiking, or other warmer-weather activities. Four Mountains Sports is a year-round gear provider and the perfect place to gear up for e-biking or mountain or road biking. Other bike-specific shops in Aspen include the Hub of Aspen and Ute City Cycles; in Snowmass, Gene Taylor Sports has long specialized in mountain bike sales and rentals in the warmer months. Planning a climbing, mountaineering, backpacking, or camping adventure? The Ute Mountaineer is your one-stop shop. Local flyfishing guide services Aspen Outfitting and Aspen Flyfishing both operate small retail shops. And for yoga and other athleisure wear, options abound—including local favorites Lululemon and O2 in Aspen.

The phrase “One man’s trash is another’s treasure” is particularly relevant in Aspen Snowmass, where sophisticated, globetrotting, and seasonal populations are constantly passing along all sorts of goodies to local secondhand and consignment shops. Next to the fire station on Hopkins Avenue in downtown Aspen, the Aspen Thrift Shop is a must for the frugally minded shopper, with prices starting in the single digits for gently used clothing, shoes, and accessories for men, women, and children; sportswear and some gear; books; home goods; and more. And as a volunteer-run nonprofit that makes grants and provides scholarships, every purchase (and donation) gives back to the community.

A narrower and generally more upscale scope of men’s and women’s clothing, accessories, and skiwear can be found at Susie’s Limited, a local favorite consignment store since the 1970s. The Little Bird focuses exclusively on designer clothing, handbags, jewelry, and accessories—possibly consigned by local celebrities. Check out Twinkle for a very well-curated selection of infant and children’s clothing, and Replay Sports for an ongoing treasure trove of secondhand sports gear, sports accessories, skiwear, tents and backpacks and the like, and more.

Colorado boasts rich growing regions (including near Aspen Snowmass), a strong ranching tradition, a high rate of entrepreneurship, and a heavy dose of local pride—which together result in an impressive amount of locally grown, produced, and sold food and beverage products. In Aspen, a robust selection of local products can be found at Meat & Cheese Restaurant and Farm Shop. Local goods are also part of the specialty food offerings at the Butcher’s Block in Aspen and Grain Fine Food in Snowmass.

Multiple liquor stores in both towns, such as Of Grape and Grain in Aspen and Daly Bottle Shop in Snowmass, boast fine selections of Colorado wine (there are two designated growing regions, or AVAs, near Aspen Snowmass), plus plenty of local beer and spirits.

And since Colorado was one of the first states to legalize recreational marijuana (in 2012), Aspen Snowmass has a well-established presence of cannabis shops, including Silverpeak, Aspen’s first, and the Snowmass Dispensary.

Luxury fashion brands have a strong presence in Aspen Snowmass, particularly along the Galena Street corridor in downtown Aspen, which is dotted by Prada, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, and Valentino. Branch out a bit geographically and concept-wise, and you’ll discover that Aspen Snowmass offers a diverse range of unique shops for clothing and accessories, whether you’re putting together a look for a benefit ball, an evening of fine dining, or a casual coffee or après-ski date.

Locally owned boutiques with their fingers on the pulse of Aspen lifestyle trends include Pitkin County Dry Goods, offering an eclectic mix of men’s and women’s designer and casual fashion since 1969; P.E. 101, luxury modern fashion that suits women’s lifestyles and body types; and Kemo Sabe for high-end Western wear, cowboy hats and boots (along with an utterly unique retail experience, which can include custom shopping and shots at the upstairs bar).

With a jewelry shop for just about every block in downtown Aspen, you can’t go wrong on the bling—local favorites include Meridian Jewelers, Katherine LeGrand, and Aspen Hive. Gorsuch retail stores in both Aspen and Snowmass offer alpine-inspired styles for men and women, plus tableware, home décor, and gifts. And in Snowmass, don’t miss Local Color/Local Rebels, which has it all: contemporary clothing lines, local jewelry and art, home décor and pottery, and souvenirs, toys, and gifts.

In addition to all the outlets mentioned above, what makes shopping in Aspen Snowmass truly unique and memorable is a strong collection of eclectic, fiercely local, and hard-to-categorize retailers. In Aspen, several are located around a stretch of Main Street near the Hotel Jerome.

Since 1965, Aspenites have relied on Carl’s Pharmacy to stock anything and everything that’s underrepresented or unaffordable elsewhere in town — from socks and underwear to a huge selection of souvenirs and gifts to sewing goods, art supplies, toys and games, cosmetics, and more. Across the street, the Miners’ Building is part hardware store, also selling auto parts, electronics, hunting and fishing gear, kitchen and home goods, and more. Next door, the Aspen Emporium is an artisans’ collective brimming with one-of-a-kind gifts, foods, and other myriad products in a delightfully explorable Victorian cottage.

On the next block to the west, Rocky Mountain Pet Shop meets your best friend’s needs while nonprofit-owned Explore Booksellers offers a large variety of books that reflect Aspen’s body, mind, and spirit ethos and exudes the soul-satisfying vibe of a classic, independent bookstore. Around Clark’s Market are also a few local retail treasures, such as Sashae Floral Arts & Gifts and Corbeaux, a local brand of athletic base layers made with sustainable materials.

In Snowmass, the Snowmass Center is the local, practical shopping complex — check out Sundance Liquor & Gifts for a wide variety of needs and wants. Finally, Anderson Ranch Arts Center, a nonprofit creative education and artist development retreat, offers artists’ works, gifts, and art supplies in its charming public store.