Anderson’s – andersonofyankeecreek

Anderson's Mountain Market

An Evergreen Institution

What started as three gas pumps and a wooden cash drawer in 1976 became one of the most beloved businesses in the history of Evergreen, Colorado. Anderson’s Mountain Market was built by Walt and Doris Anderson and run by their family for decades, as a place where everyone was welcome, every name was remembered, and a really good sandwich was always available.

The Beginning

The first step on the road to Anderson's Mountain Market was a shack and three gas pumps installed in the spring of 1976. With the towing business sold, Walt and Doris converted the front yard of their property on Highway 73 from a car lot into a fuel stop. Their son Jodey built the shack himself and installed a wooden cash drawer and a bathroom. Walt called it Jodey's "shoe box operation." The shoe box sold cigarettes, soda pop, and candy. The diesel and kerosene pumps ran on the honor system. It was remarkable how little theft they had.

Building the Store

After long family discussions, sometimes heated, the decision was made to build a proper convenience store on the property. The name took even longer to settle on, but they finally agreed: Anderson's Mountain Market. The store was built near Evergreen High School and across the street from Mountain Open High School, making it a natural gathering place for students during lunch. Most businesses limited the number of kids allowed inside to prevent shoplifting. Anderson's opened its doors fully to the students, and the kids policed themselves. Walt and Doris were fastidious about cleanliness. Walt cleaned the restrooms multiple times daily and kept even the top of the hot water tank spotless. The store reflected who they were.

The Deli

The deli became the heart of the store. The sandwiches were handmade and priced simply: cost the ingredients, then double it. Construction workers came every morning for breakfast sandwiches. Students came for lunch. Regulars came because there was nowhere else like it. Jennifer Boone, a longtime customer, remembered a turkey sandwich with tarragon mayo as "the absolute best sub anywhere, anytime" and recalled a little visit with Beth and Jodey, or Walt and Doris, as "the best times in Evergreen."

The Community

Anderson's Mountain Market was more than a store. Walt knew every customer by name, often by car, and could recall a family's history going back years. When elderly customers struggled to pay their heating bills through a cold stretch, Walt would deliver enough fuel oil to get them through. Doris would quietly account for the shortfall and the family would eat more beans for a while. Nobody who needed help was turned away. When the 1965 flood brought trees crashing down on the bridge in downtown Evergreen and threatened to wash out Main Street businesses, Walt was there with equipment. His silver snowplow truck was a fixture in the Kinnikinnick neighborhood through every winter for decades, clearing driveways long before dawn.

The Fuel Business

Walt and Doris established Anderson Oil Company in 1960, purchasing fuel through a Phillips Petroleum jobber in Idaho Springs. In time they established their own jobbership, giving them a critical advantage during the energy shortages of the 1970s. At times Anderson's was the only station in Evergreen with gasoline.

A Closing Note

Anderson's Mountain Market closed its doors after decades of service, leaving a gap in Evergreen that many still feel today. For those who remember it, the memory of a fresh sandwich, a full tank of gas, and a friendly word from Walt or Doris is a memory of Evergreen at its best.