Lush Cosmetics LLC, a Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, company with a longtime location at 1312 Pearl St. in Boulder, will relocate this spring to larger quarters at 1215 Pearl St.
Nature’s Own, the previous occupant of the space, closed Dec. 29. It maintains retail locations in Nederland and Fort Collins and has a wholesale business that sells products to museum gift shops.
Lush, which bills itself as an ethical retailer that produces and sells cosmetics that have not been tested on animals, will occupy the 3,200-square-foot building owned by Tebo Properties. The building — originally constructed in the 1950s — will retain the existing tin-roof ceiling at the center of the shop and has been remodeled with antique features using reclaimed materials.
“Thoughtfully designed with the history of the space in mind, the new shop will be a sensory playground for customers to discover what ethical and sustainable cosmetics are all about and continue the legacy of serving the Boulder community for years to come,” Elisa Torres, Lush’s director of retail, said in a written statement. “This store will be home to a new, interactive feature that outlines the life cycle of our iconic black pots and recycling program to further educate and engage customers with the brand’s core values.”
Stephen Tebo, owner of Tebo Properties said the company had numerous offers to lease the space but felt Lush was the best option for downtown Boulder.
While the new shop is built, the existing store will remain open.
Nature’s Own, a rock shop popular with tourists, was founded in 1986. Its closure resulted from high rents and inadequate sales, the company stated.
“The rent has always been high (in Boulder),” said Kate Readio, a longtime staff member who has been with the company since 1987. “Then the rent was increased. Our Nederland store pays about a quarter of the rent, and sales were almost always higher than in Boulder.”
She said the customer dynamic was different in Boulder, where people visited the shop but had many options on Pearl Street or in the community for their dollar. “In Nederland, most of the people who stopped in would buy something,” she said. The Nederland store has been the top performer for the company.
Nature’s Own was founded by Roy Young, who was not available for comment.
