Commonwheel Artists Co-op — Attraction in Manitou Springs

I live in CO Springs, and visit Manitou a few times per year. There's always something new or interesting every time I visit Common Wheel. The "employees" are actually the artists (it's a CO-OP after all), so you'll often get good information about the artwork and/or the artist. I can't speak for the all of the artisits, but the ones I have interacted with are quite nice and helpful. Pieces range in price, and there are many different pieces to suit many different taste: paintings, drawings, sculptures, carvings, kaleidoscopes, dishes... lots to take in.

Furthermore, The Common Wheel is a special place to me. It's one of a few REAL establishments in a town dominated by tourism. If you're local and haven't been here, go! If you're visiting and looking to take a piece of Colorado home, why not take home something shaped by people who were shaped...

Received a charming necklace from shop and I wanted to inquire about an alteration to the piece. After asking if there was a manager to speak with, the very rude sales person who answered phone replied, “We don’t do returns and there is No store manager.” CLICK! I called back to share more of WHY I was calling and she replies, “I have closed my register as we are closing”.

If you don’t have the skills for Customer Service, you shouldn’t be retail. If a prospective caller rings you 5 minutes before your apparent closing time, rather than being rude. DON’T answer the call. It’s not rocket science.

Beware!! Horrible...

Walked in with a friend from Germany, and a very kind gentleman met us and gave a brief history of the co-op. I found a beautiful powder blue asymmetrical bowl with white etchings for only $40. Brought it home, and I've enjoyed the way fruit rolls and settles naturally into the asymmetrical curves. Support your local artists, skip the everyday crap at Target. You won't find a bowl with soul at a...