ALAMOSA — On Aug. 25, staff from Rainbow's End Thrift Store in Alamosa, staff from La Puente Enterprises/Homes, city officials, and others gathered at the store to celebrate the recent renovation to the store facade that now has a retro look.

To walk into the store is to walk back into the history of Alamosa.

Joseph Bain and his son, Victor, constructed the building completed in 1935, using a patchwork of used materials, some of which were salvaged from the 1921 Pueblo flood and brought to Alamosa on the railroad. The Bain's operated a department store in the building for about a decade. Reused bricks, iron posts, recycled railroad rails, and different lengths of floorboards were some of the materials that give the building character.

"Take a look at the floorboards, some are narrow and some wide," exclaimed Lance Cheslock from La Puente who added, "This building is as sturdy as a tank.

 “We think it’s an amazing coincidence that the mission right now is selling recycled goods that people gave us to repurpose,” said Cheslock.

In 1954, Miles and Alice Acheson leased the building and operated a store at the location that sold furniture, hardware, and appliances until 1977.

In 1994, La Puente bought the building, turned it into a thrift store, and renovated the apartments above the store.

The property is now listed by History Colorado as Bain's Department Store and states, "La Puente... in their efforts to rehabilitate the building, converting the second-story living quarters into six rental units, and using the street level as a thrift shop. Every weight-bearing interior was shored up in order to keep the load off the exterior masonry walls. The roof, skylights, plumbing, and wiring were completely reconstructed, brick re-pointed, and the storefront reconstructed. Funding for the $428,000 project included almost $310,000 from SHF, loans from the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, $40,000 from the Johnson Fund, $65,000 from the Colorado Division of Housing, $11,400 from La Puente, and $127,000 from the community."

Rainbow's End in Alamosa is operated by La Puente Enterprises which operates social enterprise business ventures: Milagros Coffeehouse, and two Rainbow’s End Thrift Stores with locations in Monte Vista and Center. The businesses support the parent business, La Puente Home.

Alamosa Mayor Ty Coleman thanked everyone gathered at the event and all of those who made the renovation possible adding, "It takes a team effort to bring about a great change to our community like this. The acronym TEAM is for Together, Everyone, Achieves, More."