Abaton Books
Founded: April 1, 1991
Closed: 1994
Address: 2525 W Pikes Peak Ave.
Founder: Tamara Bartlett
[1][2]
Abaton Books was a bookstore opened in the early 90's by owner and founder Tamara Bartlett and her partner Brenda Lansberry, which had a primarily gay and lesbian audience. The bookstore was located in Old Colorado City. [3]
The conception of the bookstore began when Tamara went on a group trip to Boulder to see a Sweet Honey in the Rock Concert.
"Being around all the women, I loved the energy...On the way back {to Colorado Springs}...one of my friends said, 'I wish Colorado Springs had a women's bookstore! Within two weeks I quit my job, found this location, and everything just fell into place."
Prior to Abaton, the building housed a women's bookstore that was closing. Abaton was able to take on the existing stock, as well as the bookshelves and magazine racks. [2:1]
Between the existing materials and the small sum of money Tamara had from her mother passing, she was able to start the store. [2:2]
"It was just enough to start this store. I'd rather have my mom, but if I can't have her, at least I have this."
The local lesbian publication, New Phazes, was published out of the back room of the book store, and the publication was a significant source of traffic for the book store until word got around. Soon, word of mouth brought in not only gays and lesbians, but a dedicated straight following as well who were interested in the metaphysical book selection. [2:3]
The bookstore was also a place for clientele to pick up copies of local newsletters like New Phazes, Community Vision, and Lesbians in Colorado.
In 1993, the bookstore also started to offer computer and electronics repair, courtesy of Brenda, Tamara's partner at the time. [2:4]
When the bookstore closed, its stock was donated to the The Pikes Peak Gay & Lesbian Community Center. [4]
Photos
2525 W. Pikes Peak Avenue in 2011 from Google Street View
Abaton Books ad in the September 22, 1993 issue of Out Front
Key Dates
- April 1, 1991: Abaton Books, a bookstore for lesbians and gays, opens in Old Colorado city.
- 1995: Abaton Books closes.
References
The closed date is based on first and last mentions of the store within local and statewide archives. If you know more exact dates, Contribute To The Project. ↩︎
Eyl, Jennifer. “At Work.” Weird Sister 2, no. 10 (1993): 12. Archives of Sexuality and Gender. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/FTMWHL592320207/AHSI?sid=bookmark-AHSI&pg=12&xid=d54f9e71. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
“Abaton Books in Colorado Springs.” OUT FRONT, vol. 18, no. 14, 22 Sept. 1993, Colorado Historic Newspapers, https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=OTF19930922-01.2.71.1. ↩︎
Bartlett, Tamara. “Colorado Springs LGBTQ+ Oral History Project, Season 3 – Tamara Bartlett.” [Colorado Springs, CO], 11 Oct. 2022, Charles L. Tutt Library | digitalCC, https://digitalcc.coloradocollege.edu/record/3219?ln=en&p=bartlett&v=pdf#?xywh=-1972%2C-1%2C6902%2C3574. Audio. ↩︎