Meet Tracy Frickey

Today we would like to introduce you to Tracy Frickey.

Hi Tracy, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
It began in rural Peru, Kansas a tiny town that makes Mayberry look like it was on steroids. A place filled with church bells on Sundays, white picket fences, where fathers went to work, moms stayed at home, elder women quilted at the church, elder men played dominoes in the park as the neighborhood children gathered for a day of play until everyone was called home for supper. Blessings were given with food on the table. Sidewalks seemed to roll up while families gathered on the front porch to witness the suns farewell to another day. Life luxuries were scarce and the humble value that you held in the community was of far more importance. A charmed life some would say but as Webster description defines “a life protected as if by magic charms: a life unusually unaffected by dangers and difficulties, doesn’t really fit because difficulties existed. To overcome those difficulties, you helped one another. You had extraordinarily little means, but you gave a lot. Being self-sufficient and wearing many hats was key and all the community’s eyes were on you. Another words, keep your nose clean. President Obama, whose grandmother “Toot” who also was born in Peru described life growing up in rural Kansas perfectly in his memoir “Dreams from My Father,” it was “where decency and endurance and the pioneer spirit were joined at the hip with conformity and suspicion and the potential unblinking cruelty.”

This background became my life path with my parents and grandmother leading by example. Dad was major city councilman, volunteer firefighter for fifty years and everybody’s friend. Mom was everybody’s mom and the park patrol. “Grams” was my grandmother who possessed a graceful, warm kindness that shined brighter than any other soul that I have ever meet. My life story reflects in their influences. My talents and skills come from that upbringing. Dad showed me that you step up and work hard if you want something done. Mom taught me that caring for the family is first and foremost. Through her park monitoring role, she taught me that it is unacceptable to be mean or bully. She is now known as everyone’s Granny. Grams shared enormous love and compassion along with musical skills. Her arts and crafts skills could easily have her coined as the original Martha Stewart. (Please note that Grams never smoked pot or went to jail. She would have thought Snoop Dog was cool and schooled him in a little ragtime music) 

I want to finish my back story with a little more family geographical history. Grams and Mom were both born and raised in Lake City, Colorado. My husband Norty of 36 years is a native, as are our children Clay, Emily, and son-in-law Sean. Our two grandsons Langston and Laurence make up the fifth generation of proud Colorado natives.

I am sure you would not say it has been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a smooth road?
The journey of my life has been pretty much a smooth one. It did become more challenging when I decided to start my own business at the end of the last recession. This new journey began in Northwest Denver’s Berkeley neighborhood on Tennyson Street. This is where Emily and I set-up our tea shop MODesTEA, where you could purchase modern teas at modest prices. Modesty really did describe our tiny150 square foot space with no HVAC or bathroom. However, that did change in 2012 when we moved to 43rd and Tennyson. This was a building I would later purchase with the help of long- time native resident businessman building owner Bill Eichman. (Better known as Major Bill of Berkeley).  The goal was to save it from being bulldozed down and keep the corner block local business shop charm in place on the street. I filled it with great local businesses consisting of Kats-Eye Boutique, Tried and True Barbershop, Pressed Daily Juice, Sarah O, eXtraOrdinary Gifts, Real Baby and Berkeley Supply.  

I was so very thrilled to have had landed in one of the city’s old main streets, Peru/Mayberry feeling, gems that was filled with history, potential and charm. The city’s new cultural arts district overlay was just beginning on Tennyson adding additional life along with destruction.  Berkeley was going to be the next Highlands. It was during this time as head of the merchant’s association, I became a public negotiator. I honed that skilled for ten years while on Tennyson and eight years on the Board of Directors at Elitchs. The revitalization of these two projects seemed to always be two steps forward and four steps back. 

The streetscape delays on Tennyson had caused 30% of our businesses to close or move away. Things settled down for a few years before the growing pains hit.  Soon property and businesses owners were hit with the reality of what comes after revitalization – high rises, high property taxes, high rents, and parking issues.   During this same time, a microburst hit the theatre, blowing the roof off and causing over a million dollars’ worth of damage. This devastating blow came on the heels of our most successful season with sold-out events. My favorite sold-out event was in collaboration with the children’s bookstore Second Star to the Right and the author of Captain Underpants, Dav Pilkey. The theatre and grounds were filled with over 800 laughing joyous children engaged in activities. The success of that event helped us land the rights to host an official Harry Potter event from Warner Brothers. However, there was not enough magic to make a new roof appear. All events were canceled for the year. That was the last hard obstacle I would try to tackle and my finally thought was that sometimes you must move out of the way for greater things to happen. It worked. DURA stepped up and provided funding to restore the theatre. I sold the building, and it remains in good hands to not be torn down.

I remain involved with the theatre as a volunteer and support the businesses on the street. While I reflect on the hardships of this time in my life, I will say that the memories are filled with great people, collaborations, events, and a tremendous learning experience that I will always cherish.  There are so many who have worked, supported, and promoted the cause through the years who probably never received the recognition that they deserved. No monument will probably be erected to honor their support and hard work. My hope is that when we all look at the restored theatre that we recognize that it is our monument, and its completion honors us all. As for Tennyson street, I hope that the new arrival of buildings and people bring a new life and support to our local businesses. Some of the charm may be gone but that can be made up for by filling the street with charming new people.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I was “the fixer” and “connect the dots” person when I was on Tennyson and volunteering on the Elitch Board of Directors.  While I am not physically there, I continue to advise and collaborate with individuals, business owners, artists, teachers, commercial real estate brokers, community leaders, historians, and event planners to navigate their way through finding a meaningful place in that community. I guess what sets me apart is that I still dream and believe like an unjaded child seeing potential in anything and anyone. My personal favorite saying is, “I love to walk on the sunny side of the street.  Hope you can join me there.  If you do decide to join me, please bring a sunny disposition, positive energy and community building ideas.”

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I am on the Advisory Board for the theatre and mainly collaborate through Michael Bliss who is acting as Volunteer Executive Program Director.  We are currently looking for funding to return him to paid staff at the theatre.  Through the Advisory Board we are looking for volunteers, artists, musicians, children programming and creative ideas to keep the legacy of Mary Elitch alive. First and foremost, we cannot accomplish this without fundraising, so please bring your ideas, talents, and pocketbook.  We can finally open the doors after COVID passes.

Contact Info:

• Email:  tracy@historicelitchtheatre.org
• Website: https://www.historicelitchtheatre.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historicelitchtheatre/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hegtf/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/historicelitch
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIseIytLYJU7V98CFciNKHA/videos

Image Credits
Michael Bliss, Evan Semon, Tracy Frickey