The Fitter on University Hill Celebrates 50 Years in Business
In 2023, Boulder’s University Hill has seen many of its long-established businesses close their doors. However, one mainstay on the Hill has remained strong: The Fitter, which sells smoking accessories and more, has celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Adapting to Changes
The Fitter was first opened in 1973 by Bruce Klahr, who sold it two years later to his twin sisters, Bonnie Dahl and Betty Gruskin. Since then, the sisters have steered The Fitter through several difficult periods, including a government raid in 1991. They attribute their success to their ability to adapt.
One of the key changes they made was pivoting to women’s clothing in 2003 after hearing about head shop raids across the US. They rebranded their store as “The Fitter,” shortening the name from “The Pipefitter,” to make it easier for their customers to charge items to their parents’ credit cards.
The Fitter continued to thrive for many years, selling pipes and menswear, until 2012 when Colorado passed Amendment 64, legalizing recreational use of marijuana for adults over 21. In 2020, despite the pandemic, The Fitter flourished as students who remained on the University of Colorado Boulder campus for the duration of the pandemic had some extra time and money on their hands.
Looking to the Future
Now, in 2023, The Fitter sells cannabis vaporizers, kratom accessories, and mushroom spores, after Colorado passed Proposition 122, decriminalizing the personal use and possession of certain psychedelic plants and fungi.
After celebrating their 70th birthdays in August, the twin sisters stepped down from operating the business full time, and Bonnie’s son, Jason Dahl, now runs the store. However, The Fitter is not planning to close anytime soon. “We still want to continue the legacy,” says Bonnie Dahl.
Over the years, The Fitter has reinvented itself and demonstrated its flair for business, and it remains a beloved institution on the Hill. Betty Gruskin sums up the journey: “It’s been a fun trip, and I think it keeps us both very young at heart. It’s been a wild ride watching Boulder grow up.”
