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Mid-Century Modern: Big Top Stores

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Big Top convenience stores were designed in 1959 by the Denver firm of Kellogg & Sayre. A customer came up with "Big Top" in a naming contest. It seemed appropriate for the building's circus tent appearance. I believe these buildings were originally painted red and blue. There were giant signs which projected from the roof's center.

There were three Big Tops built in 1959. Between 1960-1964, another ten opened. Self-serve gas was offered at three of these locations in 1964 which was a novelty at the time. By 1967, there were a total of 15 locations. There were plans to build 100 stores in the Denver area by 1970. However, by the early 1970s, Big Top sold off the buildings to other convenience store chains. Today, 11 of these buildings still survive. For a more thorough Big Top history, see Robert Autobee's article in the Spring 2009 issue of the Society for Commercial Archeology's Journal. This Denver Post ad appeared in 1962. [scan thanks Robby Delius]

Hardee's restaurant buildings of the 1960s featured very similar scalloped roofs.

Lek's Asian Market
Aurora, CO
Lek's Asian Market was originally a Big Top. It was a Maxi Mart in the 1980s. [photos thanks Tim Ross]

former Big Top
Denver, CO		 former Big Top
Denver, CO
All of the surviving Big Top stores have been repurposed. The one on the left is used as a gas station convenience store. The one on the right is now a multi-use retail store. This was the first Big Top location built.

former Big Top [gone]
Englewood, CO		 former Big Top
Littleton, CO
Here are two more former Big Tops. The one on the left was last used as a ski shop. The building was demolished shortly after this photo was taken in 2008. The building on the right is now used by Adams Trailers.

former Big Top
Denver, CO
This Big Top store now houses a cleaners.

More former Big Top stores:
Arvada, CO

Wireless Toyz
Ypsilanti, MI
Wireless Toyz was founded in 1995. This building has been here since at least 1967. It was never a Big Top store but must have been inspired by the design. Does anyone know what business was here originally?