Image is buildings and cars on Springfield Colorado's main street in a black and white undated photo that has been merged with a color, modern photo of the same side of the street that has been mirrored.

Step Inside Springfield’s History and Imagine Its Future:

Open Doors Springfield

What if one of Springfield’s empty Main Street buildings could become your next business?

On Saturday, October 17, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Baca County Economic Development Commission invites residents, entrepreneurs, business owners, and anyone with a little curiosity to step inside some of Springfield’s vacant downtown buildings during Open Doors Springfield.

The tour will feature 10 locations along Main Street that are currently available for sale or rent, with the possibility of additional buildings being added. Realtors and/or building owners will be available at each location to answer practical questions about the spaces, including square footage, condition, asking price or rental cost, and more.

But Open Doors Springfield is about more than empty buildings.

It’s about seeing what could be.

Discover What’s Behind the Doors

Most of us have walked past an empty storefront and wondered what it used to be—or what it could become. That curiosity is exactly what inspired the Open Doors concept.

Deb Brown of Webster City, Iowa, hosted the first tour of its kind and has since helped dozens of communities organize their own events. As Brown explains, people naturally wonder about the stories and possibilities hidden behind closed doors: “Most humans are innately curious. We like to know what was inside a space, what could be in that space, who was there before, what are the possibilities for an empty space.”

During Open Doors Springfield, volunteers will be on hand to share the history of each building and tell stories they know about the people, businesses, and events connected to these spaces.

It’s a chance to look at Springfield’s past while imagining what its future might hold.

A Chance for Entrepreneurs to Picture the Possibilities

For local business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs, finding the right space can be one of the biggest steps toward starting or growing a business.

Tyler Gibson, owner of Baca Home Care Agency, knows that firsthand. His business once rented space on Main Street before eventually being in a position to purchase and invest in its own building: “Open Doors Springfield gives other business owners and entrepreneurs the chance to see what is available and picture how one of those spaces might work for them,” Gibson said, "sometimes the first step toward filling an empty building is simply getting people inside and helping them see the possibilities."

Maybe that vacant storefront could be a retail shop. Maybe it could become an office, restaurant, studio, service business, or something Springfield hasn’t seen before.

You won’t know until you open the door.

Honoring the Past While Building the Future

Springfield’s Main Street buildings are more than bricks, windows, and storefronts. They are part of the community’s story.

Former Town of Springfield Trustee Bernie Alvarez believes those stories are worth preserving—but also believes these buildings need a new chapter, “These buildings carry a rich history, but they need a future.” Alvarez sees the Open Doors Springfield Tour as an opportunity to spark investment, breathe new life into the local business district, and bring customers back into town.

That future could begin with a conversation, an idea, or simply a walk through a building that many people have passed by for years.

Plan Your Tour

Open Doors Springfield will take place:

Saturday, October 17
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Main Street, Springfield, Colorado

Maps will be available for pickup beginning October 1 at select locations. Visit the Baca County Economic Development Commission website for information about map pickup locations and additional event details.

Whether you are looking for a place to start or expand a business, interested in Springfield’s history, considering an investment, or simply curious about what is behind some of Main Street’s doors, come take a look.

You never know what possibility might be waiting on the other side.

For more information, contact:

P.J. Chenoweth
Baca County Economic Development Commission
719-353-2244
bacaed@bacacountyco.gov