Pandora on the Hill & Soul Haus bring much more to the table than the awesome merchandise they offer—it’s all about the experience. How many places can you say you walk into and all of the sudden you’re knee deep in conversation of  ‘would you rather’? Here, everyone is a friend, it’s not about making you buy something but rather about making a connection. Many moons ago I had the honor of working with Stephanie and Chris and I have to say they are some of the best people I have ever met. They care about their customers just as much as they care about their business, so no wonder it’s thriving!  Their taste is splattered, smeared and decorated in every inch of the stores’—think pixie/pop punk meets new century goth and had a hippie child that enjoys delicate trinkets—it is all there. Fine artisan jewelry, incredible perfumes & lotions, cards for literally every occasion, gag gifts, clothing, candles—it is LITERALLY a one-stop shop! Remember that vintage “EZE MOP” sign right off of Park Ave and 17th on the border of City Park West and Uptown? Yeah, walk in…that’s where the magic happens.”

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Why did you choose City Park West & Uptown to do business in?

We LOVE Uptown! The Uptown neighborhood was Denver’s first “mixed-use” neighborhood, founded on the principals of urban living, small business shopping and independent restaurants; all lining 17th Avenue with wide, tree-lined and walkable streets. When we purchased the historic EZE Mop building about 7 years ago, we knew we would be moving  both of our businesses to the neighborhood that we had fallen head over heels in love with. The residents and business owners in Uptown shared and embraced our passion for local designers and small tag lines, and a match was made. We are thrilled to have Pandora on the Hill and Soul Haus side by side in this amazing, dynamic and eclectic community.

What about this neighborhood jives with your business culture?

At Soul Haus, we Upcycle, Freecycle, B-cycle, Reuse, Reduce and Recycle anything and everything we can get our hands on. Uptown is a green community, and we live and work that way too. We carry a vast number of talented local and regional artists and we also source locally everything we can as well,  from our printing to our trash service. Never because it’s trendy, but because it’s the right thing to do.  We donate a large percentage of our profits annually back into our community through a variety of resources and organizations.

Bottom Line? We truly are Locals who Love Locals Locally.

Why are you passionate about your business? What’s the story?

I  think I would answer that we are not actually all that passionate about business – running a business is hard, but we are extraordinarily passionate about the people that walk through our doors. We take the time to learn about the people in our neighborhood, and their passions, their dreams. We have 17 years of meeting, working with and chatting with amazing people within these walls. We have laughed and cried, we have established life-long friendships, we have watched their kids grow up, go to college and now see third generations walking through our doors.  Much to the chagrin of a plethora of business coaches – at the end of the day,  these extraordinary people and their cherished moments are what we value about operating a small business- not the bottom line.

What inspired the look of your business/ the design?

We really wanted to make Soul Haus resemble an old world apothecary, a space full of surprises, gorgeous collections and interesting kitsch- even the logo was derived from the label on an old apothecary bottle in our basement. Chris has always said he wants to be like Mr. Hooper on Sesame Street – sweeping the sidewalk, greeting neighbors by their first name as they walk by, and selling a few interesting wares along the way. Pandora on the Hill is our one-stop, sparkle shop for gifts on the go. Our smiling staffers can’t wait to help you find the perfect present and then perfect the presentation. We’ll put it in a pretty box, add ribbon, tissue and sparkles until your gift is glittering. And p.s. – the extras and high fives are always free.

Stephanie & Chris are offering Denver Vibe followers a coupon to come say hi, buy some goodies and visit their vibrant stores and personalities! Use the password “I love Sparkles” – and you can take 20% your first-time purchase. 

Thank you Taylor with Live Urban Real Estate for introducing us to Stephanie & Chris!

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