Lesser-Known Local Shops & Makers (Your Poll Winner 🎉)

Happy Wednesday, FoCo fam,

Ben here — and FoCo, you officially chose the most wholesome category possible. Last week’s poll crowned “Lesser-known local shops & makers” as the winner with 27% of the vote, so today we’re building your holiday gift list around local businesses.

🏡 Poll: Do You Want a Real Estate Section?

We asked this way back when the list was tiny — but there are a lot more of you now. Should we start including a small real estate corner with interesting listings, neighborhood trends, and “what your money buys” around town?

Would you read a real estate section in this newsletter?

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We’re leveling up What’s Happenin’ and your voice guides everything we build. From the events we feature to the stories we cover, this newsletter is shaped by the people who actually read it.

We put together a quick 2-minute Reader Survey to learn what you value most, why you read, and how we can make this an even better part of your week.

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FoCo’s Shops & Makers (Crowdsourced Edition)

What's Happenin' in Fort Collins: Event Listings

Want more? See the full calendar → Fort Collins Event Calendar

💼 Local Jobs Worth Checking Out

You asked for it — we delivered. In our recent poll, a bunch of you said you’d love a tiny job board in the newsletter, so here it is. We believe great communities connect people to great opportunities.

👉 More Jobs Here →

Local Happenings

Locust Cider May Close Fort Collins Taproom by Year’s End

Locust Cider’s Fort Collins taproom is expected to close soon, according to founder Jason Spears — though there’s still a chance it could stay alive under new local ownership.

The closure would be part of a companywide downsizing after Locust’s big 2019 expansion and the financial strain that followed. Rising costs and industry challenges have hit many beverage brands, and Locust is now planning to keep only one taproom open — its home base in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Fort Collins chef Dan Miller, who’s been running the taproom’s all–gluten-free, celiac-safe kitchen since 2024, is actively seeking investors to take over the location. Both Miller and the company are working toward what Spears called a possible “smooth handoff.”

• A closure before the end of the year is unlikely.

• A transition to new ownership could keep the taproom open — but isn’t guaranteed.

• If the closure does happen, Locust plans to host farewell events for the community.

• Locust’s grocery + wholesale cider distribution remains strong, with new 2026 seasonal ciders already in the pipeline (including a cinnamon-cranberry release).

The Fort Collins taproom isn’t done yet — but its future hinges on whether local investors step in.

Read More-->>

Catch You Friday, FoCo 💛

That’s a wrap on our “local shops” edition. If you know another inclusive, hate-free local business that deserves some love, hit reply and tell me who they are and why you love them—this list should grow all year, not just during the holidays.

If you found a new place to shop small today, forward this to a FoCo buddy who still thinks “local gifts” means a CSU hoodie and a six-pack.