Orchard Mesa’s Western Wear Store May Actually Be Closing

There's a store in Grand Junction which has been "going out of business" for some time. Well, it seems they may be closing.

Rocky Mountain Hats and Boots is a western wear liquidator operating just east of 27 Road on Highway 50 in Orchard Mesa. The store sports the giant "Going Out Of Business' sign. Well, it seems this may be the case.

I did several remotes at Rocky Mountain Hats and Boots about two years ago. At the time I didn't fully grasp the idea of a liquidator. According to the freedictionary.com:

LIQUIDATE: verb

• To pay off (a debt, claim, or obligation); settle.
• To settle the affairs of (a business firm, for example) by determining the liabilities and applying the assets to their discharge.
• To convert (assets) into cash.

Rocky Mountain Hats and Boots purchases the inventory of other stores which have gone out of business and then sells the merchandise from their location.

After more than five decades in the business, it's time for the store's proprietor, Jerry Derby, to move on down the road. Jerry is a businessman to the core and has continued working well into his 70's.

While doing a remote a few years back, I seized the opportunity to shoot a video of Derby shaping a hat. This went up on YouTube, and to date, has close to 30,000 views.

I stopped in the store at 2718 Highway 50 this morning. Jerry was there hard at work. After looking around, it seemed there were some excellent deals. The sign in the window says 50% off. In addition to the inventory, the business itself and the building are up also up for sale.

Well, all I can say is, "Good ride, Cowboy." Jerry Derby is a genuine rodeo cowboy. It's my understanding he helped start the Fruita Rimrock Rodeo. He's been at the game for a long time.

Here's to you, Derby. I've been in your store and witnessed people buying a dozen hats at a time. Many of them requested you to personally shape their hats. That certainly says something. It seems it's time for the cowboy to ride away and enjoy retirement. Thanks for more than 50 years of business.