Editor’s note: This is part of The Know’s series, Staff Favorites. Each week, we give our opinions on the best that Colorado has to offer for dining, shopping, entertainment, outdoor activities and more. (We’ll also let you in on some hidden gems.)
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An ’80s prom ensemble. A vintage wedding dress. Pin-up attire. Retro T-shirts. Grandma sweaters of the highest caliber.
Diane Allison’s vintage clothing store Anteak Booteek, located at 7070 W. 38th Ave., along Wheat Ridge’s main drag, is packed to the gills with clothes from all subcultures and decades.
As a diehard thrifter, Allison’s store brings me to my knees — which I’ve learned is advantageous, as she keeps cool shoes tucked below the racks.
“It’s a great place to be immersed in a wonderland,” Allison said. “It’s all things fantastic and colorful and prints. I just want it to spark curiosity and joy and creativity.”
Allison is a true clothing connoisseur, amassing her impressive collection of high-quality apparel over decades. She has pieces dating back as far as 1890 and gets a thrill out of helping you find exactly what you never knew you needed.
Some of my favorite wardrobe pieces have been triumphantly plucked from Anteak Booteek’s racks while Allison and store manager Frankie (a gray-faced Chihuahua) hype me up. If you shop ’till you drop and need a pick-me-up, I recommend stopping at nearby Get Rights for a pastry, pizza slice or sandwich.
Allison grew up in Wheat Ridge and fell in love with thrifting in junior high when she wanted her fashion sense to project “kooky.”
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Once a year, Wheat Ridge High School’s art club took a field trip to New York which is where Allison found salvation in thrift store called Antique Boutique — the namesake inspiration for the store she’d open in 2024 after her basement grew impassable with her clothing collection.
Allison sources her materials from estate sales, thrift stores, garage sales and folks who bring her vintage finds to sell.
“It’s like a treasure hunt when you find something,” Allison said. “I just like to quietly treasure and marvel when I’ve found something good.”
Whether you’re in search of a fun Halloween costume, clothing from a certain time period or unique pieces to spruce up your wardrobe, Anteak Booteek is a favorite stop for me.
Head on in and try something on. Allison might even ask to snap a photo of you in your new duds to post on her Instagram account, @AnteakBooteek. (I recommend following for fun outfit inspiration)
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