At the beginning of the Pandemic in 2020, longtime Terra Verde employees (and Colorado Springs natives) Carrie Hibbard and Leah Riehl bought the iconic downtown women’s boutique from owner/founder Chris Sonderman. For Hibbard, it was a particularly poignant and proud moment, since the fifth-generation Springs resident thereby continued her family’s 130-year tradition as downtown retailers.
New York native Cassius Ayers Hibbard opened C.A. Hibbard and Co. 1892. It was a prosperous, optimistic time in the city’s history, thanks in part to the Cripple Creek gold rush. By 1894, there were seven stores selling “dry goods and notions” on S. Tejon between Pikes Peak and Huerfano (now Colorado), as well as one around the corner on Pikes Peak.
Hibbard was an aggressive and agile competitor. Thirty-five years later, Hibbard’s and Giddings were the only local survivors, but competition had become even more intense. Mom & Pop dry goods stores had been supplanted by well-capitalized department stores in spacious downtown buildings. J.C. Penney had a store at 19 N. Tejon, Kaufman’s was at 114 S. Tejon, and Giddings had opened a “Modern Department Store” at 101 N. Tejon.
But Hibbard’s 1924 building at 17 S. Tejon was a retail paradise, five stories of great stuff for sale – dry goods, clothing, cosmetics and furniture, as well as “notions” (needles, thread, wool, collar stays and the like). Designed by prominent Springs architect Thomas Barber, the once ultra-modern building slowly morphed into a treasured historic structure. Hibbard’s hung on valiantly until Carrie’s Dad, the late Ralph Hibbard, finally bowed to the inevitable and closed the store in 1996. By then it was the last independent department store in Colorado.
The building still stands, housing a restaurant on the ground level and offices on the upper floors. Many longtime residents have fond memories of the noble old store. The pneumatic tubes, the oak display cases, the birdcage elevators, the ageless ladies who worked as sales clerks…alas, all gone.
“I remember those old ladies,” Carrie recalled, “ and coming to my Dad’s office way in the back of the store – he didn’t want anyone to know he was there. He always took the freight elevator to his office. And calling him you’d get the switchboard operator, and she’d plug in his line manually.”
In spite or because of its ancient quirks, Hibbard’s had a loyal clientele – just as Terra Verde does today. Founded in 1992, the boutique emphasizes its “inclusive and inviting atmosphere,” has a full and part-time staff of 20, and sells women’s clothing, jewelry, handbags, accessories, home decor and gifts.
“When the pandemic started we really upgraded our computer systems and got serious about online saIes, but they really didn’t have much impact,” Hibbard said. “But once we could fully open the store, we recovered. Last year was our best ever, and this one may be even better. We love being here, and we love what’s happening downtown!”
Cassius and Ralph would have been proud…
