Meet Alexis Sohlden | Owner & Operator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alexis Sohlden and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alexis, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Starting my own business has been a lifelong journey I have been on that I didn’t really know about.

My grandparents lived through the Depression. The way they lived and what they valued rubbed off on my parents and then me. We weren’t a throwaway family. Everything served multiple purposes and we held onto things just in case we’d need them one day. Once something was no longer useful to us as a family, we either recycled it, donated it, or sold it.

One of my landmark moments that I didn’t realize until an adult was when I was probably around 10 years old. Our house was right next to a city park. The park had tennis courts, a baseball diamond, picnic tables, and even it’s own zoo. I would ride my bike on the road and through the trails, usually by myself. I started to find tennis balls left behind or that had been hit over the fence into the woods. I’d come home with a few every time. Our dog had more than he could even use. My mom had a garage sale just about every summer. One year, she let me put a whole bucket of tennis balls in the sale. I think I probably had a few cents per ball on the sign, thinking that someone would want some for their dog. A man came up during the sale and asked about them. He wanted all of them. I don’t remember why he wanted them, but he gave me something like $10 for all of them. A light bulb went off. I took something that was no longer wanted by someone else and got it to someone who did AND I made a little money for my time and effort.

I started buying secondhand in the 1990s with my cousin, Renae. My secondhand story wouldn’t even exist without her. Renae was always ahead of her time, doing things that weren’t necessarily cool or fashionable, but because they aligned with her values. She introduced me to my first thrift store – Goodwill. Growing up in Wisconsin, this is the predominant thrift store chain. Renae introduced me to graphic tees. We mainly shopped the mens department for these shirts and also thrifted mens ties. I guess we were just looking for our own style and to be unique.

The 1990s was when Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle, etc… was the norm for pre-teen and teen fashion. I remember showing up to school one day with my newly purchased American Eagle shirt to find that a friend was wearing the exact same shirt. I think this was another turning point for me. I didn’t want what everyone else had. I wanted the cool, unique, and interesting. It soon became the thrill of the hunt to find the most outrageous, non-nonsensical shirts. It took years for me to branch out into other departments. Slowly, but surely, I added shoes, books, home décor, sporting goods, etc…

It became a mix of interesting, unique finds while also finding incredibly functional and practical items. I slowly transitioned to buying less “new” in stores and more “new to me” in thrift stores. Over time, while picking up items for myself and my own personal collection, I started to see other items that I knew were worth money. Even though I didn’t want them for my own collection, I knew that someone else might want them for theirs. That has continued to grow and evolve over the years into Greyson & Leigh Reclaimed Goods.

I lost my long-term job in April 2022 unexpectedly and abruptly. That gave me time to think about what I really wanted to do with my life and my career. I’d always loved thrifting, buying secondhand, etc… and dreamed about doing that as my job, rather than just a hobby. I decided to take the leap to work for myself and teach myself about small business. I do not have a business background, so I’m incredibly thankful to organizations like Colorado’s Small Business Development Center, Small Business Administration, Startup Colorado, SCORE, etc… that provide education, training, and consulting for small businesses.

I basically put myself through a crash course in business education in 2022 and opened my own business in 2023. I opened my brick-and-mortar shop in Central City in April 2023 after applying and being selected for the Central City Start-up Space Program. The program helps small businesses launch by providing them a space with subsidized rent in Central City’s downtown area. This summer, I’ll transition out of the space and into my own!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
What is the most important factor behind your success the success of your brand?

I think the most important factor behind my success and the success of my brand is… me! This isn’t meant as a humble brag. I’ve just thought about this before. Without me, my business and brand truly wouldn’t exist.

My passion, my energy, my time, etc… is what drives my business. I’m a one-person show. I do all the behind-the-scenes work as well as the front-of-house work. As I mentioned earlier, this has been a lifetime journey that I didn’t really know I was on. I’ve ended up here and it makes so much sense now.

I handpick each item that goes into my inventory. I have to go out and find those items myself. Whether that be at a garage sale, flea market, thrift store, or on the side of the road. I think you do have to have an eye for buying secondhand. You need to know what to look for, inspect each item for any flaws, and know how much its worth. I’ll always be learning and refining my eye. Sometimes I feel like I have this Rolodex in my mind that I’ve been developing for years. I consult it when I’m out picking.

Part of what I do is research each and every item that comes into my possession. I get as much information from the previous owner(s) as possible. Then I take that usually online to research more. Part of my research is finding comparable items on the market and what their value is. I use that to make decisions about how I will price my item. I try my best to keep all items in line with market prices while also making them attainable and affordable to most people.

I also think curation is an important piece to my success. I don’t sell everything for everyone. I sell a curated collection of unique, high-quality items. Of course, I hope you find something that you like and connect with. However, I know what I sell is not for everyone. I can’t possibly be everything for everyone. My business is my brand. Honestly, most of what you find in my shop are things that I would want myself in my own home. My shop inventory centers around cabin and lodge décor. It also celebrates Colorado’s history.

I’ve had my brick-and-mortar shop for just about a year. Part of what has made me successful is the community around me. So many folks have found my shop by seeing my posts online and have stopped in. Others are residents, employees, and visitors to Gilpin County that have stumbled upon my shop. I try to create a welcoming atmosphere in the shop and I am truly interested in the people that decide to spend some of their time with me in my shop. I’m interested in their backgrounds, where they’re from, what they’re interested in, etc… I think that has helped make the business and brand successful as I have a lot of folks that return! I’ve also found so much support online where folks comment, share, like, etc… posts. They invite their friends to my business page. It’s been really fun growing that community. And it’s not just about my business either. It’s really about that secondhand mindset for me. It’s not all about buying something. Sometimes, it’s about not buying something (if that makes sense).

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I think a lot of folks hear “Central City” or “Black Hawk” and immediately think of gambling and casinos. It’s true, between the two cities there are over two dozen casinos. BUT… there are so many other incredible businesses, organizations, places to visit, etc… that I don’t think get enough love and credit.

I have a lot of folks that come to my shop and remember visiting Central City with their families or friends pre-gambling (early 1990s). They reminisce about the mom-and-pop shops, the atmosphere, the history, etc… In some ways, I feel like the county is trying to bring that back in addition to the casinos now.

Right on Eureka Street, where we’re located is the Historic Central City Opera and Teller House. There’s the Gilpin History Museum and Gilpin County Arts Association located in Washington Hall. The Opera hosts world class talent each summer usually during the end of June through the beginning of August. I feel like this is when Central City is at its best. The streets are alive. You’re often treated to performers warming up with the windows open. It’s hard to put words to that experience when you’re just walking down the street.

Also on Eureka Street, you’ll find Ermel’s Emporium, the community gem of a thrift store. It’s a great place to donate your unwanted items while supporting the community too! The old Teller Law Office has been converted into Eureka Street Popcorn in the last few years. They pop all popcorn in-house and usually have over a dozen flavors to choose from! There’s Bravo Italiano Caffe 42, which is this Italian Market that you’d never expect to find in a tiny, little mountain town. Steve, the owner, is one of the most generous people I’ve ever met in my life. Talk about creating an atmosphere! Steve is so incredibly warm and welcoming to his shop. He’ll sit you down and walk you through all the nuances of products you’ve never seen or tasted before. Next to him is Golden Rose Antiques and Collectibles. They’ve been a staple in Central City for over a decade slinging great antique and vintage items. I have the fortune of being located above the Central City Visitor Center at 103 Eureka Street. We’re right at the junction of Main and Eureka. Visitors and residents alike come here for the most up-to-date information about whats happening around town and where to go!

On Main Street, you’ll find Hawley Mercantile of Central City. It’s four floors and over 10,000 square feet of antiques, vintage, collectibles, sports memorabilia, etc… Right next to them, you’ll find Mountain Heart Flowers and Gifts. Deb, the owner, has brought together a great collection of locally curated goods and artists. You’ll also find Gold Coin Saloon attached to Easy Street Casino. I send so many visitors here to experience a true and authentic interior. You’ll find the original back bar, player piano, saloon doors, and more. It does feel like you’re stepping back in time.

If you’re looking for somewhere unique to stay while in town, check out the Denver West Central City KOA Holiday! The owners, Chuck and Leza, have single-handedly improved Gilpin County with their various family businesses. The were named the National 2024 KOA Campground of the Year! During the summertime, you can get pizza and/or wings delivered right to your campsite!

If you follow Eureka Street up toward Columbine Campground, you’ll find close to a dozen historic cemeteries from the 1800s. It may sound macabre, but I find this area of town to be one of the most relaxing and beautiful. Each fraternal order or organization had their own plot back in the day. Now, you’ll find them enveloped in aspen groves and wildflowers. A serene walk through the cemeteries is incredible. Without even knowing it, you’re steeped in history as you take in each of the gravestones. Speaking of history, the larger Gilpin History Museum is located in the one of the old schools in Central City. Its exhibits are not to be missed and even include a submarine! Through the Gilpin Historical Society, you can get tours of Washington Hall, Coeur d’Alene Mine, the Thomas House, Central City Opera House, Teller House, Weekly Register Call newspaper office, and more!

One of my favorite “hidden gems” of Central City is the BPOE. They’re typically open on weekends. You head up the door just to the right of Mountain Heart Flowers and Gifts on Main Street. The bar/pub is on the second floor. Likely, one of the Dons will be working the bar. Ask them to head up to third floor where the meeting room is. It’s from the 1800s and the BPOE has done an incredible job curating artifacts from then till now. You’ll get a great view out of the magnificent third story bay window too!

Central City puts on a variety of special events during the summertime. My favorite is probably Madam Lou Bunch Day. 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of this event. It is Saturday, June 22nd so mark your calendars now! You’ll see folks dressed up in period attire from the 1800s including sporting house women, miners, outlaws, and more.

There’s so much more to Central City and Gilpin County than gambling. Yes, gambling has been a part of the history for a long time and it likely will be into the future. However, there is so much to experience including the history, architecture, people, places, and the stories. Simply calling it a gambling town is doing it a disservice in my opinion.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Honestly, the best shoutout I could make is to the Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC). As I mentioned earlier, I don’t have a business background. I had to really learn everything myself and I was able to do that because of the SBDC. They have an incredible library of free live and on-demand courses online. There are so many topics to explore like accounting, marketing, writing a business plan, etc… There is absolutely no way I would be where I am without them and their support.

Website: https://greyson-and-leigh.square.site/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/greysonandleigh

Facebook: www.facebook.com/greysonandleigh

Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/greyson-and-leigh-reclaimed-goods-central-city

Other: www.ebay.com/usr/greysonandleigh www.mercari.com/u/688732856