Customer Spotlight: Tattered Cover at Union Station (Denver, CO)

If Denver has a “front porch,” it might just be Union Station. Rolling suitcases, commuter coffee runs, and wide-eyed visitors all converge beneath one historic roof. Tucked into the bustle is a compact Tattered Cover storefront that serves as the city's literary welcome desk. It is part travel companion, part local love letter, and part treasure hunt. Born during Union Station’s major renovation (mid-2010s), the location was designed to meet readers where they arrive and depart. It captures people in motion and invites them to stop, browse, and stay a while.  

We sat down with AJ Sidener, store manager, and Kathy Baum, buyer, to learn more about this historic location and how the transitory shoppers bring a little magic with them on their travels. 

Your Union Station store is at the crossroads of locals, travelers, and history lovers. How does that mix of foot traffic influence your inventory, events, or the kinds of stories you spotlight? 

At Union Station, the shop naturally becomes two experiences in one small footprint. It’s almost like two neighbors sharing the same address. Up front, the energy is quick and travel-minded, with bestsellers, easy-to-grab favorites, and titles that suit a short decision window. But as you move deeper into the store, the mood shifts from convenience to curiosity. 

That back half of the store is where locals and travelers, with a little more time to linger, find the store’s hidden treats. Even with limited space, the team aims to carry something for every kind of reader and interest. The guiding idea is simple: if you want a quick “view” of Colorado, you can get it fast. If you want a deep dive, treasures are waiting in the books that reward exploration the way a good city does.  

We’re always curious about what catches your customers’ eyes. Are there any vintage images or themes from Found Image Press that resonate well with your visitors? 

Two postcards in particular keep proving they have gravity. 

One is the Union Station at Night image. It is part great-seller and part instant conversation starter. It lands especially well because Union Station itself has lived multiple lives, and the building’s major renovation in the 2010s reminded people of that layered history. The image becomes a little time portal, allowing visitors to see the place they’re standing in, as well as its earlier versions.

The other standout is the Denver Zephyr Train at Station card featuring the silver train. It’s bold, eye-catching, and always sparks a reaction. When customers recognize they’re on the same train (or about to be), it becomes “I have to send this” as proof of place. 

Running a bookstore inside a bustling train station must come with some great moments. Have any surprising customer interactions showcased why this space is so special? 

Union Station is often described as Denver’s doorstep, and the shop feels it every day. The staff often greets people at the beginning of their trip and sees them again on the way out. We welcome them and say farewell in the same week, sometimes on the same day. That rhythm of arrivals and departures adds a sweet meaning to even small interactions. 

And then there are the returners that make our shop special. One especially memorable example is a German group that has returned three times, making the Union Station Tattered Cover a planned stop on every visit. That kind of loyalty is flattering and speaks to the shop’s role as a place people want to come back to, not just pass through.  

From hosting author talks to supporting local voices, Tattered Cover has always been more than just a bookstore. How do you bring that mission to life at the Union Station location in particular? 

This location leans into local authorship and makes Colorado voices visible, findable, and easy to champion. The store uses small Colorado flag tabs to mark local authors on shelves, helping visitors quickly spot hometown (or home-region) talent. There’s also a dedicated local section, and staff intentionally steer curious readers toward it whenever a recommendation opportunity arises. 

We also love to share a little extra tidbit or fun fact about the author to help the reader feel more connected to where they are. It’s a small gesture that turns a purchase into a story. 

And sometimes the support is stealthy. We’ve had several local authors sneak in to sign books, leaving behind the kind of surprise that makes a bookstore feel alive. 

Just for fun—if the Union Station store were a book genre, what would it be and why? 

If this shop had a genre, it would be an essay collection. 

Not because it’s academic but because it’s full-spectrum human. Union Station is the starting point for major parades, and it’s also where people gather when the weather turns or safety is a concern. In the span of a single day, the shop might sit beside absurd joy, heartfelt reunions, stressed-out commuting, and the quiet heaviness of goodbye. Essays fit because the place is composed of short, vivid, and varied moments. Each one has its own small story and tone.

Union Station is a bustling landmark, and Tattered Cover gives it pause. In a building built for movement, the bookstore creates a pocket of stillness where travelers can turn a trip into a memory, locals can rediscover their city, and anyone can leave with a little piece of Denver tucked under their arm. It’s a shop that proves books belong everywhere people do, especially at the doorway of a place, where every arrival carries possibility and every departure deserves a good last page. 

If you find yourself passing through Denver, we hope you’ll stop by Tattered Cover to see the magic in real life. And if your plans don’t include a trip to the colorful state, you can follow them on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and more!