AboutTown
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Cristina Grave, owner of Durango Treasures, which recently opened in the old Irish Embassy Pub spot on the corner of Main Avenue and Ninth Street. Grave opened the store after seeing a need for expanded offerings at her other store down the block, Twilight Toys./ Photo by Scarlett Moore
Discovering Durango Treasures What happened to the old Irish Embassy Pub building? by Elizabeth Barrett & Scarlett Moore Animas High School interns
pan out their treasures in the cave’s trough of running water. “A lot of people love to have an extra attraction, something for the kids to do,” Grave fter the Irish Embassy Pub, anexplained. “It’s not just for the kids or other COVID casualty, closed the adults; it’s for the whole family.” in September 2020, its iconic Durango Treasures only occupies location was put up for rent. At the the upstairs space, which took 3½ beginning of this year, passersby months to renovate. The mining cave began to notice new activity in its was built where the pub’s dishwasher long-vacant windows, and on April 2, used to be. Grave recounts, “We did a store called Durango Treasures offihave to do a lot of remodeling. The cially opened to take the pub’s place. counter was huge, and there were Out of curiosity, we went down to walls everywhere that we needed to chat with the owner, Cristina Grave, knock down, just to make more room a six-year Durango resident who also … It took us from the end of Decemowns Twilight Toys, in the 600 block ber all the way to April 2.” of Main Ave. While it may seem like a tourist Kids young and old can go prospecting for gold and Grave opened Durango Treasures fossils in the mining cave./ Photo by Scarlett Moore shop at first glance, Durango Treasures after demand for a wider selection of is also meant for Durango folks, said items grew. “Since (Twilight Toys) opened Colorado-themed kitchenware. “I’m super Grave. In fact, the store offers locals a spewe have had a lot of people coming in and excited to have this space; it’s such a beau- cial discount. “A lot of locals are coming in, asking for children’s items we don’t have tiful building!” she exclaimed. because they see a lot of things over there The crown jewel – or gem, if you will – that fit all needs, instead of just tourist stuff. the space for – like strollers, home decor, pet toys, just a little bit of everything,” she said. of Durango Treasures is a small “mining It’s been great, a lot of support from locals.” cave” in the back. It’s lit by warm LED “But our space is very limited.” Grave is optimistic about the shop’s fuGrave was inspired to open up another “lanterns,” with walls designed to look like ture: “We love being there, and I think it’s store for more variety. Now, she sells every- real rock. The prospectors can buy a bag of going to be a great spot for the whole family thing from baby clothes and toys to unique, dirt containing either gems or fossils, and to come!” ■
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telegraph
April 28, 2022 n 11
