Shaver-Ramsey Est. 1976
n 1975, Paul Ramsey caught the travel bug. Along with then partner Carolyn Shaver, he journeyed the globe far and wide and fell in love with the people, places and cultures of Asia. In particular, he was deeply attracted to the way that these societies were celebrated through art, textiles and rugs. “I was incredibly drawn to the beauty of Asian artifacts. Specifically, I loved how their art depicted so much about the culture of those who created it,” the former graduate school teacher with a background in statistics recalls. “These local tribes were truly brought to life through the rugs and textiles they crafted.” At the time, Carolyn Shaver was part-owner in La Boca, a successful Denver-based importer of Latin American artifacts with several locations – Cherry Creek included. As she and Ramsey trekked across Asia, they began to collect things with the intention of selling them at La Boca. And sell they did. Their treasures were so well received by Shaver’s customers that the duo soon realized they had a completely new business on their hands. With that, Shaver sold her interest in La Boca and joined Ramsey to create a new store focused on fine rugs and textiles. They acquired a space in the heart of Cherry Creek on the corner of Third and Josephine and Shaver-Ramsey was officially launched. “Back then, the neighborhood was really Bohemian,” Ramsey says. “There were a number of modern furniture stores, small artist-owned shops and a lot of really locally-rooted businesses. It was a very funky little area.”
“We live here. We work here. We are deeply rooted in this neighborhood. It’s important for us to share what we have with the community.”
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Since then, Shaver-Ramsey has grown into one of the nation’s most well-respected purveyors of fine rugs, largely due to Ramsey’s vast knowledge on the topic. In fact, he has worked closely over the years with the likes of the Smithsonian Institution, the Textile Museum, and the Denver Art Museum to promote the art of rugs and textiles. Many have even featured the collections of both Shaver-Ramsey and its clients. All the while, a deep commitment to only the finest quality – from new, premier rugs being woven by today’s finest artisans to collectible and decorative antique carpets to one-of-a-kind custom rug productions – has remained steadfast. “We’ve grown from one small portion of our original building to, bit by bit, occupying the entire space,” co-owner Elizabeth Vehko, who took over for Carolyn Shaver 22 years ago, explains. Ultimately, Shaver-Ramsey found its next home just a few blocks away on Sixth Avenue. And while the address may have changed from the building they called home for over 40 years, the heart and soul
of the business did not. What’s more, this growth can be seen through much more than just a footprint. Shaver-Ramsey’s list of accolades is long. From calling senators and governors their clients, to providing the rugs for Colorado’s most distinguished and monumental events – including a visit from Pope John Paul II and the 1997 G8 Summit – Shaver-Ramsey is, indeed, esteemed. But for both Ramsey and Vehko, the business is about much more than simply business. As such, Shaver-Ramsey has long been known as not only a purveyor of fine rugs, but also as a community center of sorts. They frequently loan their space to local nonprofit organizations looking to host special events, and for years have been beloved for their popular “Magic Carpet Ride” series whereby Paul Ramsey leads an entertaining tour of the history and ethnography of rug weaving. “We live here. We work here. We are deeply rooted in this neighborhood. It’s important for us to share what we have with the community,” Vehko finishes. More via shaver-ramsey.com
The
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Meet the businesses that have been shaping Cherry Creek since the beginning. Here, we recognize those celebrating 30 or more years in the neighborhood. CHERRY CRICKET – 75 Years FOSTER & SONS – 61 Years SAKS GALLERIES – 57 Years LAWRENCE COVELL – 53 Years THE VINEYARD – 49 Years HERMITAGE BOOKS – 47 Years JOHN ATENCIO – 44 Years SHAVER-RAMSEY – 44 Years ARTISAN CENTER – 43 Years ANDRISEN MORTON – 42 Years THE BRASS BED – 42 Years MARIO DI LEONE – 39 Years
EUROPTICS – 37 Years GNAT – 37 Years KINETIC FITNESS – 37 Years SHOW OF HANDS – 37 Years WILLIAMS JEWELERS – 37 Years GARBARINI – 35 Years CHERRY CREEK TAILOR – 34 Years CONCORD CUSTOM TAILORS – 33 Years MARKS LLOYDS FURS – 32 Years WIGS TODAY – 31 Years FASCINATION ST. FINE ART – 30 Years ROOM & BOARD – 30 Years