By AJ MERRIMAN
The Ramspondents
In a bustling city full of bars and retail spaces, the Collective Vintage stands out as one of the most unique spots in town. The space is designed to bring several communities together in a basement adjacent to CSU’s campus. This Fort Collins bar and shop combines vintage clothing, retro gaming, live music, and a laid-back social atmosphere to create a space that feels both nostalgic and new.
The Collective Vintage, located at 1228 W. Elizabeth St., built its identity throughout the last two years by offering more than a standard bar. It offers customers a place to enjoy a drink, to browse their vintage clothing section, and play arcade games on Nintendo 64s. They have frequent live music and offer a space to spend time with friends that is built around comfort and nostalgia.
For co-owner Marc Quere, the atmosphere he cultivates is the most important detail visitors should notice. He wants to create a “ blast from the past” impression with clothing and media that is at least 20 years old. He wants a vintage-inspired area that encourages people to stay. Rather than designing an exclusive experience or a VIP section, he wants the shop to feel welcoming to a wide range of people.
Quere’s involvement with the bar stems from a vintage clothing business he’s been operating since 2017. After graduating college in 2021, he transitioned to running the shop full-time.
Fort Collins is home to a thriving vintage market, which Quere has used to network and build a following. When presented with an opportunity to combine his passion for vintage clothing with a bar, he took it.
The idea to combine the two came from the shop’s multiple owners and their diverse backgrounds. Molly Van Anne is the founder of the Collective Vintage. She manages the retail side of the shop, purchasing and selling vintage clothes. Dryden Alberts, another partial owner, operates the bar itself. Bailey Etner is a graphic designer who creates marketing material for the Collective Vintage. Josh Dollenger is a “behind the scene money guy," Quere said. Felix Badle is the newest partial owner, and Quere said he is learning all aspects of the shop and its operations.
Together this group saw an opportunity to build something special. They aimed to combine clothing, music, nightlife, and nostalgia into one shared space. Quere pointed out the appeal of the location itself. It's right next to CSU’s campus and allows the Collective to host local bands and events alongside the student community.
Quere said it “just made sense” to build the Collective in Fort Collins. He added how the city’s personality and diverse demographics allowed the shop to build a robust following.
“It gave me a chance to move away from the isolation of online selling,” Quere said, “and become part of a more social, community-driven environment. It’s just so nice to hear different perspectives of different people that are open-minded and positive.” For Quere, that face-to-face connection is one of the most rewarding parts of being at the Collective Vintage every day.
Regardless of passion , opening a bar comes with uncertainty. This is especially true in Fort Collins, where bars are extremely prevalent. Quere explained how anticipation was the most powerful memory from the Collective’s opening week.
“I wondered if it's going to work. Because obviously, there are great bars all around Fort Collins, and…when you're a college student, you find the place that you want to go to. I think for us, it was…let’s see if we can make that happen."
Like many local businesses, relevance has been a major challenge. Since opening, the owners of the Collective have adjusted to the space and noted what customers enjoy and respond to. Quere said that it's not enough to just be a new bar; it’s about creating a reason for customers to come back. He points out that returning customers are the biggest reason the business has been able to grow. They especially appreciate the ability to host events and live bands in the vintage space.
Looking ahead, Quere said the shop’s owners plan to focus on growth and long-term impact in the Fort Collins community. He said he hopes the Collective Vintage can become a staple in the city and a place that people remember for years to come. For him, success means becoming part of the city itself rather than just a trend.
AJ Merriman is a reporter for The Ramspondents.