LATEST STORIES / Local Business
The Great Resignation is creating a critical moment for Colorado workers
The Great Resignation largely tipped the scales in workers' favor, and many in Colorado have seized the moment to begin unionizing.
Bad Bettie Project, Catbird’s LGBTQ+ Career Fair centers inclusion in job hunting
Bad Bettie Project and Catbird Hotel are co-hosting a career fair April 22-23 for LGBTQ+ Denverites, who often face prejudice in the work search.
Inclusivity is a VIBE at Denver’s first-ever gym for women and nonbinary folks
VIBE Gym and Wellness Collective, Denver's first women and nonbinary-only gym opened April 1 with a dedication to inclusivity.
Rooted in Rhythms offers musicians an herbal alternative to maintain mental health
Kayleigh Stone-Goering offers herbal support through her homemade and natural remedies, specifically targeting musicians.
Creatives Learn Law helps Colorado microbusinesses navigate the legal world
Several years ago, Allie Moore noticed a void in legal services for freelance creatives. So in 2019, she started Creatives Learn Law.
The Conscious Merchant takes a practical approach to a zero-waste mission
Kara Armstrong, owner of The Conscious Merchant, works with customers to find a personalized approach to going zero-waste.
Leila Qari is building cat connections in a dog city
Denver is universally known as a dog-friendly city. But Leila Qari, owner of Denver Cat Company, is looking to introduce a new furry friend.
DV8 welcomes the queer community with open arms this New Year’s Eve
Boulder distillery DV8 is opening its doors for a safe, inclusive and queer New Year's Eve masquerade ball.
2021 Denver holiday shopping guide!
Ms. Mayhem's guide for shopping small, local and intersectional for the 2021 holiday season. Get your gifting on!
Wah Gwaan Brewing marries Caribbean flavors and the Colorado lifestyle
Wah Gwaan owners Jesse Brown and Harsha Maragh bring together Colorado craft brewing and Jamaican flavors from Maragh's homeland.
Cera Marquez and the magic of dead bugs
After losing her father to cancer in 2020, Cera Marquez found comfort in breathing new life into dead things.
A ghoul’s guide to Halloween 2021
Get in your thrills this spooky season by supporting and celebrating with local queer, BIPOC and women-owned businesses.
Fernanda Durmer’s golden dreams forge Universal Deco
Costa Rican artist Fernanda Durmer wants to remind fellow Latines during Hispanic Heritage Month that they are not alone in their struggles.
HonestBird Tattoo and Nest Art Collective take the discomfort out of tattooing
Lora Bird knows tattooing is inherently painful, but she hopes the poke of the tattoo machine is the only discomfort her clients feel.
Danielle Worthington cultivates confidence with her boudoir photography
Boudoir photographer Danielle Worthington prioritizes body empowerment, consent and trauma-informed practices during her photoshoots.
How D. Fritz helps LGBTQ+ couples make the most of their special day
Wedding photographer D. Fritz helps queer couples craft snapshots of their special day, making space for all genders and sexualities.
Hajra Khan serves up justice in the courtroom and kitchen
Lawyer and baker Hajra Khan uses her edible creations to honor her Muslim heritage and fill the lack of cultural holiday treats.
Put your money where your hashtag is in support of queer small businesses
Ms. Mayhem's guide to queer-owned small businesses in Denver to support during Pride Month and year round.
FashioNation rises through the pandemic thanks to TikTok
FashioNation's TikTok videos regularly go viral. The platform has made the shop a unique Denver destination, bringing in a whole new generation.
The living art of dead things at Denver’s Terrorium Shop
Amber Hage-Ali and Ian Johnson, co-owners of The Terrorium Shop, bring a second life to bones and insects by pairing them with living plants.
The weirdness and whimsical of SheWolf Studios
Artist Casey Stelter often uses discarded objects to create whimsical and macabre pieces, transforming traditional mediums into trendy products.
‘I wanted to grow up and be that tough girl’: Behind Gasoline and Us, the biker brand built for all
Rebecca LaRue and her husband Richard have built a motorcycle clothing brand for all, regardless of gender, race or size. Watch the video.
Amy Zhang and the power of paper
Denver illustrator Amy Zhang opened her stationery business in 2018. She uses the power of paper to promote self-care and social movements.
Third Culture Bakery launches new location in Five Points
Third Culture Bakery has garnered a major customer base in California and Colorado with its Asian-inspired treats and social activism.
Raven Faber is revolutionizing the sex toy industry
As a Black woman in the sex toy industry, Raven Faber is an anomaly. She uses her engineering background to make tools for sexual freedom.
Coloradans find love, healing and acceptance inside Lakewood tattoo shop
Sandra Lin provides a safe and welcoming place for the disabled and LGBTQ+ communities to get tattooed at her Lakewood shop Disruptive Ink.
Kirsty York eschewed industry norms to open her tattoo studio—now she’s dominating with her unique style
Kirsty York had only three years of tattooing behind her before opening Blackbird Ink. Now she runs an all-female shop offering unique styles.
Jordan Jasinski on tattooing, mental health and her journey into the realm of fitness
Black and grey tattoo artist Jordan Jasinski is branching out from the art form into the world of fitness to become an online health coach.
The GrowHaus promotes food access and healthy eating in Denver’s most vulnerable neighborhoods
The GrowHaus nonprofit has been working tirelessly during the pandemic to deliver fresh food to one of Denver's biggest food deserts.
The women of Lady Justice Brewery are crafting a future for women and giving back to the community
The women behind Lady Justice Brewing Company are paving the way for future women in the industry and giving back to their community.
Jessica Christie empowers couples to own destination elopements, inspiring other women along the way
Photographer Jessica Christie takes elopement photography to new heights and mentors other young women in the industry and beyond.
Denver’s only female-owned metal bar Black Sky Brewery is powering through the pandemic
Denver's last metal bar Black Sky Brewery is powering through the pandemic, thanks in large part to an outpouring of community support.
Denver Community Fridge provides for citizens of all socioeconomic standings
The Denver Community Fridges project has gained significant traction since they opened their first free food fridge in December.
Out Front Magazine looks to the future under new female ownership
October 2020 marked a milestone for Out Front Magazine, which covers Denver's LGBTQ+ community. For the first time, the outlet is female-owned.
2020 Denver holiday shopping guide!
This year has been absolutely exhausting, right? We’re right there with you. Small businesses have especially been through the wringer this year. With COVID closures and a lack of stimulus money, many of them, especially BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and women-owned businesses, have fallen on really hard times. As an outlet that focuses on these communities, we wanted to give a big shoutout to some of our favorite companies and artists in Denver.
Here at Ms. Mayhem, we would so much rather give gifts than receive them. What a better way to give than to simultaneously support our community?
Many of these companies have come up with innovative ways to bring their products to your doorstep. Some are a mix of in-person and online shopping, while others personally deliver their goods to your front door. We’ve chosen a great variety of items to fit any kind of vibe and budget.
Sex positivity reigns at Awakening Boutique
Despite several challenges, Rose Kalasz and Tory Johnson have provided a safe haven for sex-positivity in Denver with Awakening Boutique.
Beet Box bakery shutters its doors
The pandemic has forced dozens of Denver institutions to shutter their doors. Beet Box, a vegan bakery in Five Points, is just the latest.
Boo Bazaar provides opportunity for women-owned small businesses
The pop-up market Boo Bazaar on Oct. 24 provided a much-needed space for women-owned small and micro business with an added Halloween twist.
Pamela Richard brings girl power and Southern treats to Denver with Miss Peabody’s Tea Cakes
Pamela Richard saw a lack of Southern bakeries in Denver. She's brought her tea cakes and a helping side of girl power to change the city.
Despite pandemic hurdles, nonprofit for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ community lives on
A former police officer, Ali Duncan started Urban Sanctuary in 2016. In June, she launched a nonprofit for BIPOC and the LGBTQ+ community.
The Dirty P-Words: Pandemic, pivot, preparation–and the female restaurateurs who face them
Restaurateurs have bitten their tongue about Gov. Polis' policies in the wake of COVID-19. Here's what several owners really have to say.
Give Black women flowers while they are alive: Auntie Sade serves up Nigerian classics
Sade Adebayo deserves her flowers while she is alive. Filling the stomachs of the Nigerian community in Denver for decades, she now has her own food truck.
Protect Your Space Project works to make Denver businesses safe for all
Priscilla Jerez, the manager and bartender at Tooey’s Off Colfax, moved to Denver ten years ago. Before that, she lived a whole other life in Washington D.C. She owned a bar called The Palace of Wonders, which was part museum of oddities. She was a burlesque dancer as well, something she said she can’t wait to tell her daughter about when she gets older.
But she also had an experience that is shared by most women who work in or go out to bars. When Jerez was 26 years old, she had her drink drugged while she was working.
“There were two men talking to me and, you know, being friendly,” Jerez said. “I think they were trying to sneak me out or something. I guess whatever state I was in, I was able to get to a safe place. It's one of those things that really stayed with me where I'm like, ‘Holy shit, who knows what could’ve happened?’” Jerez said.
Generation Drive-Thru feeds teens in need
The Aurora-based nonprofit Generation Drive-Thru has largely focused its energy on helping the elderly since COVID-19 hit. This past weekend they turned their attention to helping teens in need.
The Whittier Cafe shall overcome
The Whittier Cafe was first called 'the activist cafe' as a slur, but owner Millete Birhanemaskel has fully embraced the cafe's role as a sanctuary for protests, mourning and discussion.
Denver Black women owners feed and thrive
Black women are running the eatery scene in Denver despite the pandemic, with recognition of Black-owned businesses on the rise.
Woman-run tattoo shop has long put safety first
Tattoo shops are working to find a safe way to reopen within the state’s requirements, but parlors like Smokey Banana have always put their customer’s safety and security first.
From bars to restaurants, these female owners will keep you going through quarantine
Many Denver institutions have closed their doors during the COVID-19 pandemic. These female owners have come to the rescue to provide food and libations.
Ms. Mayhem’s local business profiles take a deeper look at some of the LGBTQ+, woman and BIPOC-owned businesses and organizations across the Denver metro area. If you enjoy these stories, please consider becoming a member for free to help support us.
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