{"id":2454140,"date":"2020-02-05T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-02-05T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/?p=320317"},"modified":"2020-02-05T05:00:00","modified_gmt":"2020-02-05T12:00:00","slug":"gene-taylors-sports-in-snowmass-celebrates-50-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/gene-taylors-sports-in-snowmass-celebrates-50-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Gene Taylor\u2019s Sports in Snowmass celebrates 50 years"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery p402_hide\" readability=\"6.4575\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-320317-303\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/genetaylors-svs-020520-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/genetaylors-svs-020520-1-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/Snowmass Sun | Customers of Gene Taylor\u2019s Sports get fitted for ski boots in the shop by employees in the Snowmass Village Mall shop on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/Snowmass Sun)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10.535211267606\">\n<p><strong>Customers of Gene Taylor\u2019s Sports get fitted for ski boots in the shop by employees in the Snowmass Village Mall shop on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/Snowmass Sun)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/Snowmass Sun<br \/><a class=\"buy-link\" href=\"http:\/\/aspentimes.mycapture.com\/mycapture\/remoteimage.asp?backtext=Return+to+AspenTimes.com&amp;backurl=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/snowmass\/gene-taylors-sports-in-snowmass-celebrates-50-years\/&amp;image=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/genetaylors-svs-020520-1-1024x682.jpg&amp;notes=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/genetaylors-svs-020520-1.jpg\"><i class=\"fas fa-shopping-cart\"><\/i> Buy Photo<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/genetaylors-svs-020520-1-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Customers of Gene Taylor\u2019s Sports get fitted for ski boots in the shop by employees in the Snowmass Village Mall shop on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/Snowmass Sun)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/genetaylors-svs-020520-1-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/genetaylors-svs-020520-1-1-1024x698.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/Snowmass Sun | A man peers through the window of Gene Taylor\u2019s Sports on the Snowmass Village Mall on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/Snowmass Sun)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.47486033519553\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9.4972067039106\">\n<p><strong>A man peers through the window of Gene Taylor\u2019s Sports on the Snowmass Village Mall on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/Snowmass Sun)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/Snowmass Sun<br \/><a class=\"buy-link\" href=\"http:\/\/aspentimes.mycapture.com\/mycapture\/remoteimage.asp?backtext=Return+to+AspenTimes.com&amp;backurl=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/snowmass\/gene-taylors-sports-in-snowmass-celebrates-50-years\/&amp;image=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/genetaylors-svs-020520-1-1-1024x698.jpg&amp;notes=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/genetaylors-svs-020520-1-1.jpg\"><i class=\"fas fa-shopping-cart\"><\/i> Buy Photo<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/genetaylors-svs-020520-1-1-1024x698.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"A man peers through the window of Gene Taylor\u2019s Sports on the Snowmass Village Mall on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/Snowmass Sun)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/genetaylors-svs-020520-1-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/genetaylors-svs-020520-1-2-1024x660.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/Snowmass Sun | Gene Taylor\u2019s Sports is celebrating 50 years in Snowmass Village Mall.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.3761467889908\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7.3394495412844\">\n<p><strong>Gene Taylor\u2019s Sports is celebrating 50 years in Snowmass Village Mall.<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/Snowmass Sun<br \/><a class=\"buy-link\" href=\"http:\/\/aspentimes.mycapture.com\/mycapture\/remoteimage.asp?backtext=Return+to+AspenTimes.com&amp;backurl=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/snowmass\/gene-taylors-sports-in-snowmass-celebrates-50-years\/&amp;image=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/genetaylors-svs-020520-1-2-1024x660.jpg&amp;notes=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/genetaylors-svs-020520-1-2.jpg\"><i class=\"fas fa-shopping-cart\"><\/i> Buy Photo<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/genetaylors-svs-020520-1-2-1024x660.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Gene Taylor\u2019s Sports is celebrating 50 years in Snowmass Village Mall.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/genetaylors-svs-020520-1-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/genetaylors-svs-020520-1-3-1024x700.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Courtesy photo\/The Aspen Historical Society | Courtesy photo\/The Aspen Histori | A photo of the south side of the Snowmass Village Mall from 1978. Business signs that are visible are the Stew Pot, Bright and Shiny Things, The Peppermill and Gene Taylor's Sports.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10.631970260223\">\n<p><strong>A photo of the south side of the Snowmass Village Mall from 1978. Business signs that are visible are the Stew Pot, Bright and Shiny Things, The Peppermill and Gene Taylor&#8217;s Sports.<\/strong><br \/>Courtesy photo\/The Aspen Historical Society | Courtesy photo\/The Aspen Histori<br \/><a class=\"buy-link\" href=\"http:\/\/aspentimes.mycapture.com\/mycapture\/remoteimage.asp?backtext=Return+to+AspenTimes.com&amp;backurl=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/snowmass\/gene-taylors-sports-in-snowmass-celebrates-50-years\/&amp;image=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/genetaylors-svs-020520-1-3-1024x700.jpg&amp;notes=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/genetaylors-svs-020520-1-3.jpg\"><i class=\"fas fa-shopping-cart\"><\/i> Buy Photo<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/genetaylors-svs-020520-1-3-1024x700.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"A photo of the south side of the Snowmass Village Mall from 1978. Business signs that are visible are the Stew Pot, Bright and Shiny Things, The Peppermill and Gene Taylor's Sports.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/snowmass\/gene-taylors-sports-in-snowmass-celebrates-50-years\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/snowmass\/gene-taylors-sports-in-snowmass-celebrates-50-years\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText DropCap\">On a recent afternoon in a Village Mall shop, customers browsed winter merchandise and employees started up casual conversation to assist them, asking what they were looking for and making suggestions as athletes turned down a snowy mountain on the TV screens overhead.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">It was just another day in Gene Taylor\u2019s Sports, but 2020 is not just another year \u2014 the longtime Snowmass Village Mall store is celebrating 50 years of business in town, with a group of employees and local regulars who have worked in and frequented the family-run shop for decades.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt\u2019s great, it\u2019s really great,\u201d Duke Taylor, owner of Gene Taylor\u2019s Sports in Snowmass said of celebrating 50 years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt\u2019s been about the people that work here and come in here totally, people we\u2019ve met and families we\u2019ve known for years, their kids and now grandkids. They\u2019re all family to us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Duke said he was 13 when his father, Gene, expanded his pioneering ski business with his name from Grand Junction, where he started in 1958, to Snowmass Village.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">He and his two brothers worked in their dad\u2019s stores growing up, often traveling to Snowmass from Grand Junction to ski and work, until Duke decided to come out to work at the village shop full-time for a season when he was 23. He said he\u2019s been here ever since.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI swore I\u2019d never take this as a career. I just needed a job at 23,\u201d Duke said. \u201cBut I stayed because it\u2019s just fun and it\u2019s just a great place to be.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Duke isn\u2019t the only one who\u2019s followed in his dad\u2019s footsteps. He said both of his brothers run similar stores with the family name in Grand Junction and Gunnison, and that it\u2019s an interesting business Duke feels has exposed the Taylors to a great lifestyle.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">In Snowmass specifically, Duke said several of his employees have worked in the store for more than 30 years, and the store prides itself on its consistency in providing laid back, high-quality, family-like service.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cA big part of our success definitely is our people,\u201d Duke said. \u201cWe\u2019re really serious about the skiing, everyone here is a skier or a rider and we just strive to provide good service, a fair price and to just take care of the people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">P.J. Smith, manager at the Snowmass store, is one of Duke\u2019s longtime employees. Smith said he started working with Gene Taylor\u2019s when he was 18 after moving to the village from Minnesota in 1981 and has been here ever since.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI got this job on my second day in town,\u201d Smith said with a smile. \u201cEveryone loves what they\u2019re doing here and that\u2019s what sets us apart.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Several of the employees in Gene Taylor\u2019s Sports expressed similar thoughts, emphasizing the family atmosphere and quality of service year-round for skiers, snowboarders and mountain bikers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">As Gene Taylor\u2019s Sports in Snowmass moves forward from 50, Duke said he hopes to keep the quality of service locals and visitors have come to expect up to par, and to keep going in the village as long as possible.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThere are a lot of ski shops but we\u2019re just glad to be here, to be somewhere up here,\u201d Duke said. \u201cUnconsciously, we\u2019ve stuck to what we do and we just do what we do. That\u2019s the nucleus; we keep our professional ski tuning and take care of the people. Everything kind of revolves around that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Tagline\"><a href=\"mailto:mvincent@aspentimes.com\">mvincent@aspentimes.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/snowmass\/gene-taylors-sports-in-snowmass-celebrates-50-years\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: The Aspen Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Customers of Gene Taylor\u2019s Sports get fitted for ski boots in the shop by employees in the Snowmass Village Mall shop on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/Snowmass Sun)Kelsey Brunner\/Snowmass Sun Buy Photo A man peers through the window of Gene Taylor\u2019s Sports on the Snowmass Village Mall on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/Snowmass [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2454140","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-local-news"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-18 17:26:18","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSPN The Valley&#039;s Quality Rock","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2454140","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2454140"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2454140\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2454140"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2454140"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2454140"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}