Scavenged Goods is a locally owned, punk-inspired vintage store tucked into Denver’s vivacious Bluebird District. Owner Chip Litherland launched his thrift vision on Black Friday of 2023, leading to a shop that’s now bursting at the seams. Despite its tight quarters, Scavenged Goods has managed to dump everything on display. From walls draped in band posters and vintage tees, shelves crammed with old cassettes and lucrative bins scattered throughout hiding secret finds – usually lurking at the bottom, thank us later. One visit here ensures a wondrous journey of thrift-filled discovery, with something new at every turn.
In less than two years, Scavenged Goods has rapidly grown in popularity, gaining a substantial following since its opening. However, that success was never a part of the original plan. As a matter of fact, Scavenged Goods was actually never meant to happen at all.
It was something Litherland was forced into.
Litherland grew up in Colorado and earned his Bachelor of Arts in photography from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Early on, he followed his creative passion in photographing punk rock shows. He described it as “the best feeling in the world,” being surrounded by a sense of controlled chaos coupled with an incredibly welcoming community. For Litherland, capturing that atmosphere while thrashing around in the pit himself was the fire that kept him going.
mewithoutYou at the Marquis Theatre, Denver. Photo Courtesy of Chip Litherland. Amyl and the Sniffers at the Ogden, Denver. Photo Courtesy of Chip Litherland. Punk Rock Bowling in Las Vegas, NV. Photo Courtesy of Chip Litherland. Punk Rock Bowling in Las Vegas, NV. Photo Courtesy of Chip Litherland. Tyler the Creator at 1st Bank Center, Broomfield. Photo Courtesy of Chip Litherland.
It wasn’t until April 20th, 1999, that Litherland found himself peeking through the viewfinder at a different angle. He happened to be driving past Columbine High School while working on an assignment for his photojournalism class. He noticed parents and children reuniting outside and heard the undeniable screams of heartbreak. Litherland had unintentionally arrived on one of the most impactful and tragic days in Colorado history – barely 30 minutes after the events had unfolded.
As Litherland reflected, photographing those aftermath moments felt almost “fake,” paling in comparison to being there, lens down, in the experience itself. That day sparked a desire in him to connect with his community through visual storytelling in a more compassionate way. He carried that drive into the next phase of his career, working post-graduation in Sarasota, Florida for a local newspaper and later, Legoland.
Down in Florida, Litherland continued his photojournalism work at the local newspaper until 2008. He then took a cue from his beloved punk rock culture and leaned into the DIY lifestyle by launching his own freelance career. He shot everything from major sporting events to political campaigns, even producing content for some big-name publications like The New York Times. How rad.
By 2011, he’d gone slightly more corporate in joining Legoland, where he pioneered many of their marketing campaigns, including numerous billboards credited to him across Florida and California.
Needless to say, as Litherland aptly put it, “photography was my entire existence.”
Litherland’s career stayed steady after his return to Colorado in 2017. But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, his life, like many others, turned upside down.
“I lost all of my work. My editorial work, my commercial stuff, just gone,” he shared. At the time, he was contracted for a sizable photography project, but with the world shutting down, there was nothing left to shoot. His entire livelihood teetered on the edge of financial collapse, even facing a potential eviction. He had no choice but to search for other ways to make ends meet.
However, his desperation brought him to something completely unexpected:
Storage unit auctions.
Inside those units, Litherland unearthed micro-sized worlds filled with treasures that ranged from a dated vinyl to a beheaded baby doll, or even an entire jewelry collection once owned by a woman named Barbara. As he collected these oddities over time, he began hosting pop-up garage sales where others could scour through the findings themselves. “That’s how I was surviving,” he shared.
But as his home began to overflow, he needed another space to contain it all. “I realized I had enough stuff to open a store,” he said.
And just like that, Scavenged Goods was born.
Litherland took a fearful plunge into owning a business, despite having no background in retail or running a shop. “I am shocked, I thought it would be out of business,” he admitted. That leap, however, proved to be fruitful. Scavenged Goods has evolved from far more than your standard thrift store. “It’s become a really cool community space where people come in every day, even just to say ‘hi’ or talk about what’s going on in their lives or relationships,” shared Litherland. This tight-knit belonging was fostered in true punk rock fashion – by welcoming all walks of life, no matter the lore they may carry.
Scavenged Goods still honors its roots by occasionally sourcing from auctioned-off storage units, but its network has since expanded to direct channels. Whether it’s a word-of-mouth recommendation, a Facebook marketplace listing, or a conversation with the local band stopping by, Litherland remains deeply intentional about what he picks.
He even includes his followers on the hunt, regularly sharing to Instagram Stories his daily finds. Pro tip – turn on his post notifications to snag the best thrift store heat in the game, you’re welcome.
Litherland intends to keep his community and vintage offerings central as he builds his legacy onward. His dream consists of a space where thrift thrives by day, concerts rage at night and maybe even a tattoo shop or bar woven somewhere in between. Sounds like the ultimate mashup of creative co-work space and punk co-op, if you ask us. Though he is still “trying to turn [his] life around,” that vision, according to Litherland, could be only five or ten years away.
Even though the shop owner was never a part of Litherland’s original life plan, it’s now become a vital part of his identity. “I can’t imagine not doing it,” he shared. He’s faced a number of setbacks, yet remained resilient through all of it. And now, Scavenged Goods isn’t just a place to score your newest digs, but a space that makes you feel right at home.
Next time you’re in, take your time. Because just like Litherland, sometimes the best things in life are the ones you never saw coming, but only a small pivot away.
Scavenged Goods is located at 3229 E Colfax Avenue, Denver. It is open Monday – Thursday from 12 p.m. – 7 p.m., and Friday – Sunday from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.