Denver's Only Female-Owned Independent Sex Shop Opens Its Doors (XBIZ)

Read the full article by Rhett Pardon at XBIZ.com

DENVER — Two childhood friends have partnered up to open Denver's only female-owned independent sex shop.

Awakening Boutique, started up by Colorado natives Tory Johnson and Rose Kalasz, launched three weeks ago at the Modern Nomad design collective, offering an array of high-end, nontoxic, eco-friendly sex toys, along with handmade lingerie, apparel, books and home goods.

The store also plans on hosting educational speakers, dramatic readings of romance novels and workshops in the future. It also will be available for bachelorette and birthday party pop-ups.

The Mile High City once had other female-owned sex toy stores, including Hysteria and Smitten Kitten, but both outlets closed their doors years ago.

Johnson and Kalasz told Westword that they simply were looking to create a sex-positive “space for people to learn and explore their sexuality” while also selling body-safe sex toys.

"I think a lot of people think you have to be a little bit kinky to go into sex shops, and I think all of those are absolute misconceptions."

Awakening Boutique is located at the Modern Nomad collective at 2936 Larimer St. in Denver.