There are painting jobs. And then there are moments.
Being chosen to be part of the restoration of the Denver Sports Castle is one of those moments. For the team here at Shaker Painting, this is not just another commercial painting project. This is a chance to put our brushes on a piece of Denver history. And honestly? We get goosebumps thinking about it.
Let us tell you the story of this amazing building. We are very proud to be part of its comeback.
A Building with a Big, Big Story
Picture this. It is 1926. Downtown Denver is buzzing with life. Cars are new and exciting. And right on Broadway, a beautiful building is going up — a Chrysler car showroom called the Cullen-Thompson Motor Company.
The building was designed by a well-known Denver architect named Jules Jacques Benois Benedict. It stands three and a half stories tall at 1000 N. Broadway. It features fancy stonework called terracotta. This is the decorative detail you just don’t see on buildings anymore. It has stained glass windows. It looks like a castle. And that name? It stuck.
From Car Showroom to Sporting Goods Legend
By 1971, the building had found its calling. Gart Bros. Sporting Goods turned the Denver Sports Castle into what they called a “Sportsman’s Castle.” They operated there for 22 years. For a long time, if you were a Denver kid who wanted new skis, you went to the Sports Castle. If you needed new hiking boots, you went there. If you needed new baseball cleats, you went there. It was the place.
Generations of Denver families walked through those doors. Dads brought their kids. Grandparents brought their grand kids. It was the kind of store people remember forever.
Sports Authority took over the space in 1993 and stayed until 2016. After that, the building mostly sat empty.
But Denver never stopped loving it. Not even a little bit.
A New Chapter Is Coming — And It Is Going to Be Beautiful
In 2021, the Denver Sports Castle was purchased for $4.5 million by a partnership led by Tom McLagan, executive chairman of Hyder Construction. That was a big deal. Someone believed in this building again.
Then, exciting news started spreading. Seattle-based outdoor gear retailer evo expressed interest in buying the Denver Sports Castle. The company is led by CEO and founder Bryce Phillips. Phillips himself has deep Colorado roots. He has already restored other historic buildings across the country. These include a 100-year-old mattress factory in Seattle and a historic inn in Tahoe City, California.
Kemberlin Architecture submitted concept plans for redeveloping the Denver Sports Castle to the city in December 2025. The firm is based in Colorado and specializes in historic renovation.
The vision is stunning. The Denver Sports Castle would once again be a place where Denver people gather. A hub for outdoor lovers. A celebration of what makes this city so great.
What the Restoration Will Look Like
This is not just a touch-up. This is a full, respectful, careful restoration of a building that Denver loves.
Exterior painting and restoration work will include stabilization of the historic terracotta cladding. There will be repairs to windows and aluminum storefronts. The work will involve repainting of brick and concrete. A 4,500-square-foot rooftop amenity will be added. New signage inspired by the original blade sign will be installed. The exterior painting alone is a significant undertaking. Every surface must honor the building’s historic character while standing up to Denver’s demanding climate for decades to come.
On the inside, the interior painting and restoration plan include cleaning and restoring historic features. They also involve removing non-original walls and adding new ceilings, floors, bathrooms, an elevator, and new lighting. There will be a bar, an equipment service shop, and grab-and-go food options. The interior painting work requires the same sensitivity as the exterior. Every color choice must respect the building’s original spirit. Each finish also needs to honor the building’s original spirit.
All additions have been designed to minimize visual impact on the building’s historic facades. Every decision is about honoring what was there while making it ready for the next 100 years.
The target reopening? 2028.
Meet the Team Bringing It All Together
A big project takes a great team. And this team is top-notch.
ARCO Murray is serving as the General Contractor for the restoration. ARCO Murray is one of the most respected construction firms in the country. They build and restore big, important spaces — and they do it right. Having them lead the construction effort is a great sign that this restoration will be done with care and precision.
And Shaker Painting? We have been trusted to handle the paint.
We are not taking that lightly — not even for a second.
Why This Means So Much to Us at Shaker Painting
We love Denver. We work in Denver. We raise our families in Denver.
When a building like the Sports Castle gets a second chance, the whole city feels it. This is not just a wall to paint. This is a landmark. This is someone’s childhood memory. This is a place that made people feel something.
The Denver Sports Castle is now in the process of being listed on the National Register of Historic Places. That tells you everything. This building matters — officially, historically, and in the hearts of everyday people.
When ARCO Murray brought us on for the commercial painting work, we said yes before they even finished the sentence.
Our team will treat every square inch of this building the way it deserves. We will do so with skill. We will apply attention to detail. We will also take a whole lot of pride in our work.
This Is What Commercial Painting in Denver Is All About
At Shaker Painting, we specialize in large commercial painting projects, including warehouses, office buildings, retail spaces, and apartment complexes.
But every once in a while, a project comes along that is bigger than the job itself. A project that connects you to your community. This project will still be standing 100 years from now. Future Denverites will walk past it and smile.
The Denver Sports Castle is that project for us.
When it reopens in 2028 and people walk through those doors again, we will be thinking of that moment. We will know that Shaker Painting helped make that happen. And that is something we will never forget.
The Denver Post reported on this restoration. In their February 2026 coverage by journalist Jessica Alvarado Gamez, there is real excitement building around this restoration. Denver is watching. (Read the full article: Denver Post — Sports Castle Restoration)
Want to See What Shaker Painting Can Do for Your Building?
The Sports Castle is a once-in-a-generation project, but great commercial painting happens every day.
You might have a historic building that deserves to have its character restored. Perhaps you have a new development that needs to make a strong first impression. It could also be a large commercial space ready for a refresh. Shaker Painting brings the same level of pride, precision, and professionalism to every single job.
We understand that your building is more than just a structure. It’s your brand. It’s the first thing clients, tenants, and customers see when they walk through the door. A quality commercial painting communicates who you are before you say a word. This includes exterior painting that protects and impresses, and interior painting that elevates every room.
Our team has experience to handle projects of any scale. From multi-story exterior painting on large facades to detailed interior painting in historically sensitive spaces. We work around your schedule to reduce disruption. We use commercial-grade materials built to last. We hold ourselves to a standard of craftsmanship that shows in the finished product.
No project is too big. No detail is too small. That’s been our commitment from day one, and it’s what keeps our clients coming back.
Ready to get started? Contact Shaker Painting today for a consultation and let’s talk about what we can do for your building.
Let’s Talk About Your Project
Call us today — and let’s talk about what we can do together.
Send us a message — we love hearing about big ideas and exciting spaces.
Follow Shaker Painting on social media. Follow along as we help restore one of Denver’s most beloved landmarks. We are working on the Sports Castle alongside General Contractor ARCO Murray. The journey to 2028 starts now — and we want you to be part of it.
