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Mid-Century Modern Buildings: Big Top Stores

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Big Top convenience stores were designed in 1959 by William Sayre of the Denver firm of Kellogg & Sayre. A customer came up with "Big Top" in a naming contest. It seemed appropriate for the building's circus tent appearance. I believe these buildings were originally painted red and blue. There were giant signs which projected from the roof's center.

There were three Big Tops built in 1959. Between 1960-1964, another ten opened. Self-serve gas was offered at three of these locations in 1964 which was a novelty at the time. By 1967, there were a total of 15 locations. There were plans to build 100 stores in the Denver area by 1970. However, by the early 1970s, Big Top sold off the buildings to other convenience store chains. Today, only 10 of these buildings survive. All of them have been repurposed. For a more thorough Big Top history, see Robert Autobee's article in the Spring 2009 issue of the Society for Commercial Archeology's Journal. This Denver Post ad appeared in 1962. [scan thanks Robby Delius]

Hardee's restaurant buildings of the 1960s featured very similar scalloped roofs.

former Big Top
Denver, CO
This former Big Top building was built in 1960. It is now used as a gas station convenience store. This building may be demolished in the near future. [map]

former Big Top
Denver, CO
2012: 2023:
This former Big Top was the first location built. It housed a Cricket phone store from around 2011-2015. From around 2016-2017, it housed a used car dealership. By 2018, the building was vacant and the property was surrounded by chain link fencing. Since around 2019, it has housed the La Hacienda meat market and bakery. [map]

former Big Top
Denver, CO

2012:
2023:
This former Big Top store shown on the left above was vacant for many years. In 2014, the building was renovated to house a Snarf's Sandwiches. [map]

former Big Top
Denver, CO		 former Big Top [gone]
Denver, CO
This former Big Top's distinctive roof has been covered up since at least 2007. It is still visible underneath the false canopy. The building houses Continental Cleaners. [map]

This former Big Top store shown on the right last housed a Gigantic Cleaners. In 2018, the building was demolished.

former Big Top
Arvada, CO		 former Big Top
Aurora, CO
This former Big Top store in Arvada now houses a gas station convenience store. [map]

This former Big Top store in Aurora Loused Lek's Asian Market when this photo was taken in 2012. It was occupied by a Maxi Mart in the 1980s. By 2014, the building was housing a Thai restaurant. In 2017, the building was vacant. It housed a church after that. [map]

former Big Top [gone]
Englewood, CO		 former Big Top
Denver, CO
This former Big Top in Englewood was last used as a ski shop. The building was demolished shortly after this photo was taken in 2008.

This former Big Top in Denver houses a meat market. [map]

former Big Top
Golden, CO
This former Big Top in Golden is covered with a false roof. It houses a tattoo studio and a wellness clinic. [map]

former Big Top [gone]
Littleton, CO
This former Big Top was last used by Adams Trailers. This photo is from 2008. The building has been demolished between 2009 and 2011.

former Big Top
Lakewood, CO
2012: 2022:
This former Big Top began housing Brockmeyer's coffee shop in 2021. [map]

former Big Top
Ypsilanti, MI
The former Big Top has been here since at least 1967. This is the only Big Top that I know of that was built outside of Colorado. The building housed Wireless Toyz when this photo was taken in 2011. The building now houses a Boost Mobile store. [map]

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