The Emporium Building Sold, Contents on Sale
The Emporium Building Sold, Contents on Sale
(September 2016 Celtic Connection newspaper, Denver)
After a decade and a half as the iconic Colorado mountain town mining antique/Irish & Celtic goods shop in Idaho Springs, the owners of the Emporium are retiring and have sold the building. Owner Mary Ann Dalpes said that closing the store will be bittersweet. “On one hand I love the store and our great customers, but on the other hand it is a lot of hard work to run the store.” Referring to real estate values up in Colorado owner Dan Dalpes added, “The timing seems right”.
Below is a letter to the Celtic Connection readers from Mary Ann and Dan:
“The Irish Celtic Emporium in Idaho Springs is going out of business after 16 years. The Building has been sold and the store will close at the end of the year.
The Emporium opened on July1, 2000 and has grown and flourished over the years thanks to many loyal and supportive family members, employees and friends. In August 2012 when close college friend Mary Ellen Feely died, a large part of the dream died. “Melen” was a big part of what made the Emporium a special place. But we have been blessed to have many close friends and family help keep the dream continuing for so long. It has been a great run with the shop, festivals, St, Patrick celebrations including step dancers, musicians, and leprechaun, Timothy O’Blarney. We have met
wonderful and interesting people from all over the world who have encouraged us to share our heritage and store. It is time now for us to move on to the next phase of our lives and spend more time with family, friends and grandchildren.
We want to thanks all of those over the years who helped make the Emporium a unique niche in the small town of Idaho Springs, Colorado. Please come visit us and take part in the sale of our merchandise. We will continue the sale until we close”.
The Celtic Connection would like to thank all the folks at The Emporium for bring their dream and unique store to the community for all of these years. We’ll you soon, with best wishes.
