Meet Tim Nelson of 901 East Colfax Ave.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tim Nelson.

Hi Tim, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Originally I’m from a family farm in rural west-central Minnesota. The youngest of 8 siblings, I graduated high school in a class of 13 people from Bellingham Public School in Bellingham MN. I received my BA in Theatre from Moorhead State University in Moorhead MN, and my MFA in Acting from the University of Florida in Gainesville FL. GO GATORS! Upon graduation I was hired at the Cocoanut Grove Playhouse, working my way up to Wardrobe Supervisor. Then I worked at the DCPA Theatre Company for 18 years in the Wardrobe Department until we were furloughed for the Covid pandemic. My husband, Bryan Williams (CFO), had been the Accountant at Needz for awhile when Craig Wilson, the previous owner, approached us for the sale. I began working under Craig and his manager, Stephen Boland, to learn the business from the ground up for 9 months prior to the sale.

On August 20, 2021 we purchased Needz. We continued operations at the original location until a rent increase forced us to move. We found a great location in the heart of the Lavender Hill District. Our new landlord welcomed us as a new anchor store for the building, attracting LGBTQIA+ and other minority owned businesses as our neighbors.

On December 31, 2023 we opened our doors at 901 East Colfax Ave. The LGBTQIA+ community came out in force that day to see the new location, and support a community hub for shopping and socializing. The move allowed us to double our sales inventory. We have been generously welcomed by the Lavender Hill District and the Colfax Ave. BID, as well as the people from Cap Hill, Uptown, and 5 Points neighborhoods in our new home.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We lost our first Manager, Stephen Boland, to suicide on February 2, 2023 It was a devastating loss to the store, us on a personal level, and to the community who get to know our staff while shopping. It’s what made me realize how important the store is to the LGBTQIA+ community of Denver and far beyond into neighboring states that don’t have stores like Needz. We have regular customers from a 7 state region.

We dealt with the Broadway reconstruction project to add the protected bike lane. Then we were forced to move due to a rent increase. Just after we moved the Colfax BRT plan was unveiled, and we are currently experiencing it’s construction. The Colfax project has better planning/communication and has had less of a negative impact to our business than the Broadway project did.

I received my first (and so far only) death threat 1 day after the Club Q shooting. It came in from a disgruntled customer and was turned over to the police.

Our Broadway location was vandalized with broken windows 3 times before we moved. Our new location has had one broken windows so far. Police reports were filed each time.

When the war in Ukraine 🇺🇦 began we stopped ordering from a Russian brand that we had been carrying. We had to find a replacement for our inventory.

We also got the news earlier this year that our best selling clothing brand is closing by the end of this year. We are currently looking for new brands to replace them. They cover more categories for our store than any other brand. We will need multiple brands to cover what we will lose from one.

Tariffs on imports is our most recent hurdle. We changed the business model to include more worldwide brands before we purchased the store allowing more choices for our clientele. This was especially necessary when we needed to double our sales inventory with the move. We have had to absorb most of the tariff costs so we don’t outprice our customers. It has greatly affected our ordering with daily changes on tariff rates for each country. Even the American brands we carry are produced in other parts of the world.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an IATSE – Local 719 – Wardrobe Technician and Stitcher. I sometimes still work at the Buell Theater, the Ellie Caukins Opera House, National Western, or Red Rocks. I dress the performers as well as make repairs/alterations to their costumes. One of my first Union gigs with IATSE was building the costumes for Disney’s FROZEN, for the pre-Broadway production at the Buell. Through my Union I have had the opportunity to work with international music artists like The Black Crowes, Lana Del Rey, and Janelle Monet.

For over 20 years, while pursuing my theatre career I worked a second and sometimes third job in the retail/service industry. I always maintained 2 careers to make ends meet. Don’t give up your day job!

Now I’m an IATSE Wardrobe Technician/Stitcher who owns a Boutique Designer Men’s Underwear Store and Erotic Haberdashery. The store will celebrate 20 years as a locally owned Denver business in 2026.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love the diversity of the people. It’s an eclectic mix of different backgrounds, communities, and nationalities. All of which can be seen on Colfax.

I love being part of Lavender Hill District. Recognition from the City and County of Denver is very encouraging for LGBTQIA+ businesses and their communities.

I also love the entrepreneurial spirit that puts Denver in the Top 3 Cities for Small Businesses. There’s strength in numbers, and locally owned businesses add to the quality and diversity of our city.

I love working alongside my husband Bryan, our employees, and our custom leather maker (CJ’s Leather). A great team is what makes Needz a shopping experience.

I love our customers. They are why we are here.

I don’t like how many unhoused humans are living in the Denver metro, nor do I like the unaffordable housing problem. They are directly linked.

I don’t like tariffs. They just push the cost up on everything thus driving the economy down.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://DenverNeedz.com
• Instagram: TheRealDenverNeedz
• Facebook: DenverNeedz
• Yelp: Denver-Needz