‘It was an anchor’: Nederland shopping center fire destroys a pillar of the community

In the early hours of Oct. 9, a fire tore through the Caribou Village Shopping Center in Nederland, destroying every one of the roughly 20 businesses and leveling a cornerstone of the community.

John Thompson, owner of the Mountain Man Outdoor Store, stood in front of his smoldering storefront. He compared the scene to a funeral.

“It’s like standing in front of a dead body,” he told Boulder Reporting Lab. “It was the anchor” of the town.

The blaze, called the Lakeview Fire by officials, began around 3 a.m. Thursday and spread rapidly through the wooden structures before crews could contain it. Firefighters from the Nederland Fire Protection District and neighboring agencies worked through the early hours to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby landmarks, including The B & F Mountain Market, The Train Cars Coffee and Kava, and the Carousel of Happiness, all of which were spared.

The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, is investigating the cause of the fire. Evacuation orders were issued for parts of town around 4:30 a.m. Thursday, with smoke filling Boulder Canyon and ash settling on nearby homes, according to residents. By 6 a.m., the fire was contained to the shopping center, and by 10 a.m., the evacuation order was lifted.  

The blaze caused extensive damage throughout the shopping center, leveling many businesses and leaving others beyond repair. Tebo Properties, the commercial real estate firm that owns the complex, had not yet responded to a request for comment by publication time.  

Among the businesses lost were Brightwood Music, which sold and repaired instruments and provided a space for music lessons; Very Nice Brewing Company, a gathering spot; and the Wild Bear Nature Center. The nonprofit lost a turtle, a snake, two salamanders, isopods and cockroaches, along with irreplaceable memorabilia and animal specimens, according to Matthew Celesta, Wild Bear’s director of development.

“Some of these irreplaceable education items that we have been able to collect over the years are literally ash on the ground right now,” Celesta told Boulder Reporting Lab.

The Wild Bear Nature Center wrote on social media that it was “deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved ambassador animals, cherished by many in our community and visitors from around the world.” The organization’s new nature center, currently under construction nearby, was not affected.

The fire also destroyed basic services, including Columbine Family Care, a medical clinic, and The Laundry Room, one of the few laundromats serving mountain residents without home washing machines. The shopping center also housed a Boulder County Sheriff’s Office outpost, which was lost in the blaze.

“It’s the center of town,” Art Fequa of Rollinsville told Boulder Reporting Lab. He said he wants to help rebuild it. “I’m well versed in heavy construction. I’m going to volunteer my services.” 

In addition to the physical losses, dozens of workers have now lost their jobs. Several residents said many of those employees may have to move away from Nederland as a result.

“Thirty to 40 of my friends just lost their jobs,” Tim Dillon of Nederland told Boulder Reporting Lab. “It’s going to take the town a long time to recover. We’re going to lose some long-time locals who are going to be displaced.”

It’s unclear how many businesses will reopen.

Claudia Schauffler, owner of The Shop, a new and used clothing store, said she was expecting a delivery of winter clothes but now has nowhere to put them. She started the business as part of her retirement plan and said she’s unsure whether she’ll start over.

“I don’t think I can redo it,” she told Boulder Reporting Lab. “I don’t think I have it in me.”

Despite the damage, many were grateful that the flames did not spread to nearby homes or the beloved Carousel of Happiness, where a veteran hand-carved dozens of wooden animals. Several residents said that mild winds likely prevented the fire from sweeping through more of downtown.

By mid-afternoon Thursday, just hours after the fire had been put out, a GoFundMe campaign had raised about $50,000. 

The following businesses were affected by the fire:

• Augustina’s Winery – A one-woman winery founded by Gussie Walter, established in 1997 as Boulder County’s first winery before relocating to Nederland in 2016. All wines are made from Colorado-grown grapes.
• Brightwood Music – A total loss, according to the owner. The shop featured locally handcrafted instruments, lessons and repairs. “We are absolutely devastated by the fire that took out about 20 businesses today, including ours,” the owners wrote on Facebook. “We appreciate everyone reaching out to us. We just can’t respond right now as we process what is happening.”
• Columbine Family Care – Office of family physician Dr. Michael Camarata, offering general care, gynecological services, lab services and more. A post on the Nederland Chiropractic & Wellness Center’s Facebook announced that Dr. Camarata plans to reopen an office at a new location in a week or so.
• Dam Liquor Store – Family-owned for more than 20 years.
• Kaleidoscope Fine Art Gallery/Nederland Art Studios – Showcased local artwork.
• The Laundry Room – A neighborhood laundromat serving many mountain residents without home washing machines.
• Linda’s Pizza
• Mountain Man Outdoor Store – Outdoor gear and apparel retailer.
• Nederland Chiropractic & Wellness Center – Offering chiropractor and supportive therapies. “Dr. Valen, of Nederland Chiropractic, and Dr. Camarata, of Columbine Family Care, want you to know that they each plan to re-open at a TBD location within a week or so,” the center wrote on Facebook.
• Nederland Police Department office –Though the town disbanded its police department in 2023 and now contracts with the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, the office space was still in use as a county substation.
• O’Neil Rocky Mountain Art – Stained-glass art studio.
• Oriental Healing Clinic – Acupuncture and Chinese medicine practice serving Nederland since 2005.
• Picasso Hair and Artistry
• The Shop – A local new and used clothing store.
• Spinning Silica Art Collective – A store and public studio with handmade ceramic and glass wares, founded by Maxfield and Brianna Rashbaum in 2018. “The studio is gone but the love I have for my found friendships through art are never ending,” the studio wrote on Instagram.
• Tadasana Mountain Yoga – Opened in 2011, offering more than 20 yoga classes per week. “Tadasana will pivot and will reopen,” the owners wrote. “I am not sure when or where. I am not sure how. For today, we mourn our loss, extend our love to our community, and continue to take deep breaths.”
• Tres Gringos – Mexican restaurant. “We regret to report that Tres Gringos will not be open for business today. Probably not tomorrow either,” the owners wrote on Facebook.
• The Very Nice Brewing Company – Small-batch craft brewery opened in 2012 by husband-and-wife team Jeff and Susan Greenlee. “The future is uncertain, as the Nederland facility was our winter lifeline, especially since we are not yet fully established in Gilpin, and winters here are harsh,” the company wrote. “We were about to celebrate 13 years in Nederland, and now it’s all gone — wiped away in a single night.”
• Wild Bear Nature Center – The downtown nature and education hub, home to turtles, salamanders and other animals used for children’s programs. “We will rise from these ashes with a more resilient, more impactful organization,” the center wrote on social media.

Update: This story may be updated with more information on the impacted businesses.