Greg and Becky Boman, at center, celebrated the grand opening of their new store, The Emporium, last month in Castle Rock. The Emporium offers an eclectic mixture of merchandise from more than 25 vendors.

By Lisa Crockett; photo courtesy of The Emporium

Downtown Castle Rock has a new shopping destination, one that offers something for just about everyone. The Emporium, which is located at 200 Perry Street, is home to more than 25 vendors – each in their own space – who offer a wide variety of goods ranging from antiques to candles, clothing and accessories, to chocolates.

“We really want to make shopping here an experience for our customers,” said Sharon Smith, who manages The Emporium. “We want to offer a huge variety and an eclectic mix of things so that people can really come here to have fun.”

The Emporium hosted a grand opening celebration last month, and hundreds of visitors enjoyed food from Castle Rock restaurants, including The Flying Horse, Dream Pastries, Toss Asian and Angie’s. Jazz piano and an upright bass provided background music while Caviano Vintage Chic – a vendor at The Emporium – provided a vintage clothing fashion show. Another vendor, Bonne Bruns of “Bonne’ Bella” taught a “make and take,” a vintage-style craft that visitors could take home. Give-aways of gift cards and merchandise rounded out the afternoon, as did a selection of Broadway tunes sung by Cameron Boman, son of The Emporium owners Becky and Greg Boman.

“We had a great time hosting the community,” said Becky Boman. “When visitors walk in we really want them to enjoy the great variety we offer and to see that this isn’t just the same old thing.”

In addition to items for sale, The Emporium offers “cre@tE” – creative response engaged at the Emporium, a series of workshops designed for customers who want to learn to make and do things themselves. Everything from classes in home décor to gardening will be offered at cre@tE, with vendors sharing their expertise.

Even though The Emporium is just a few months old, the Bomans already have plans to expand. Soon, a tea room on site will provide a place to enjoy lunch or a sumptuous snack. New vendors are still being added to the main building, and soon the coal shed in the back of the building will hold even more. In the summer, they envision holding classes on the back patio and next winter, they hope to host a Christmas market, modeled after European markets they visited on a recent trip to Germany.

Longtime Castle Rock residents who previously owned “Trendy Digs” Boutique, the Bomans are committed to Castle Rock and the opportunities available in the downtown area there.

“Castle Rock has so much to offer,” said Becky Boman. “This is a great, small-town environment with great potential for retail and for building relationships.”

The Emporium is now open in Castle Rock and offers art by local artists, new and upcycled clothing and jewelry, ironworks, fresh plants, fly fishing supplies, home décor items, furniture and antiques, candy, candles, gold buying and selling, and much more.

For more information about The Emporium, visit www.theemporiumcastlerock.com.