Meet Molly Fish: Owner Urbane Collective ??

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

Hi Molly, looking back, what do you think was the most difficult decision you’ve had to make?
The most difficult decision I have ever had to make was to abandon the life I “thought” I always wanted and let my life create its own path. I thought I would be a homemaker and mother but after a 12-year marriage with no children ended in divorce, I made the hard decision to move back to my native state of Colorado where all my family is. I knew I didn’t want to go back to work as a Social Worker so I started thrift and estate sale shopping, painting, and fixing up furniture. Eventually, after many fails, a worldwide pandemic, and a lot of uncertainty I decided to open my store, Urbane Collective. I have always played it safe and was never a risk taker but when I decided to move back to Colorado something sparked inside me that life is too short to not be doing what you want to do and sometimes what we think we should be doing is life is the complete opposite. 

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Urbane Collective is a curated lifestyle shop that features home decor, gifts, and clothing. I choose the name, Urbane Collective because I have a collection of vendors, that are really just friends I have meet over the years doing local markets. It was important for me to open a boutique that features these amazing people that design and create jewelry, clothing, art, and home decor because I have been inspired and supported by them over the last couple of years. All the people that sell in the store are also a representation of the local neighborhood and what Colorado Springs offers. It was also very important to me to have size-inclusive clothing in the store. I am a plus-size woman and I have often gone into boutique stores where I couldn’t find anything in my size or something I felt like I could afford. I want Urbane Collective to be a place where everyone can find something in their size and price range. We offer a little bit of everything so it is not hard to walk out with a one of a kind find!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I grew up in Colorado Springs and I feel like the city has been transforming within the last couple of years. There are so many small businesses and hidden gems in the Springs. If my best friend was in town for a day we would stop by Urbane Collective to pick up a new outfit and grab some locally made jewelry before heading out to explore all that the Springs offers. Second stop at Humble Coffee that sits in front of the T-Gap shopping center where we would have to get their Wildflower Chai tea and Hooligan mocha. We wouldn’t have to go far after that to get the best cookies in town at Sasquatch Cookies where the owner, Brooke who has a Masters in Arabic from Sweden, has different weekly flavors. Hot Asana is next to Sasquatch and they would help us burn off the extra calories from Sasquatch. We would definitely continue the Colorado lifestyle and go kayaking at Quail Lake, maybe even catch one of their yoga, paddleboard classes. Fryla Boutique is a hidden gem that is tucked away downtown in an eclectic house and features all US-made clothing and accessories. Lunch would be at Monse’s Pupuseria in Old Colorado City where we would indulge in traditional Salvadoran food. It doesn’t get much better sitting on their patio, listening to Salvadoran Cumbia, and eating a Papusa Colorado. A hike around Red Rocks and then treating ourselves to the tubs at Sun Water Spa that overlooks Pikes Peak would take us into the evening. We would wind our way back north to the Bon Shopping Center where we would have pre-dinner drinks and small bites at the eclectic and unassuming but ever so fabulous, STIR, with the option to sit in the front or back patio. Eventually, we would finish the day back at the T-Gap shopping center where we could go between Whistle Pig Brewery and Joeys pizza, the best New York Style pizza in Colorado!

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?
My family has always been my rock, in particular my mom. She has always seen my potential way before I can recognize it. My mom encouraged me to do something I liked when I moved back to Colorado and not something I felt obligated to do. She was my thrifting and estate sale partner. She loved the chase of finding a mid-century gem tucked in a corner or digging through garages for anything old and rusty. We spent many hours and miles all over Colorado doing local markets where we would sell our upcycled furniture and vintage finds. My mom and my sister were the people that encouraged me to open my store when all the markets stopped because of Covid and my mom was right by my side, painting, tearing up the floor, and a plethora of unpleasant jobs to get my store up and going. She continues to support me every day by coming in weekly to make sure I don’t kill the plants, steam, or tag clothing, chat it up with the other businesses and she is always good to bring fish tacos for lunch! Urbane Collective is only open because of the support and help of my family and especially my mom.

Website: https://www.urbanecollectiveshop.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urbanecollectivellc/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urbanecollectivellc

Image Credits
Ali Garcia Josie West Fish