Copyright The Denver Post
Work holiday parties, Christmas festivals and spectacles are on the horizon, which means one thing to some people – it’s tacky Christmas sweater season. If you don’t already have a go-to garment, there’s a nationally acclaimed pop-up shop coming soon to Denver with hundreds of vintage treasures where you can find a seasonal gem. Starting on Nov. 14, the appropriately named Ugly Christmas Sweater Shop will bring racks full of tacky goodness to Punch Bowl Social, where shoppers can peruse the inventory while sipping a seasonal cocktail. The entertainment venue, located at 65 Broadway St., will host a kick-off party on the shop’s first night featuring Very Merry Karaoke and discounts on the holiday drink menu. “Guests, ourselves included, are always so excited for the holiday season,” said Punch Bowl Social spokesperson Laura Hale, by email. “We want to be able to get these options in front of them well before Thanksgiving for our planners and to be ready to be festive.” The Ugly Christmas Sweater Shop originated in Dallas more than a decade ago, where it quickly grew to become a cultural phenomenon. Owner and entrepreneur Jeremy Turner first sold tacky sweaters and other clothing out of a school bus known as the Vintagemobile. In 2013, after seeing the sweaters’ popularity among customers, Turner took his business off the road and into his first brick-and-mortar holiday pop-up shop, boasting an inventory of 10,000 sweaters. He even created an original song and music video as an ode to his favorite piece of apparel and to promote the store. The robust selection and Turner’s quirky personality turned out to be a recipe for holiday magic. Shoppers from all over Dallas-Forth Worth ventured to the store and propelled its growth in the following years. By 2016, the Ugly Christmas Sweater Shop had three locations in North Texas and earned a shout-out on “Good Morning America.” There was even a tacky sweater rivalry between the business and another one that opened in Dallas along the way. Turner told The Denver Post in an interview that he took a break from the Ugly Christmas Sweater Shop for three holiday seasons to focus on other business ventures, including managing Airbnb properties with eccentric themes like a 1980s-inspired abode with vintage arcade games. But in 2023, Punch Bowl Social inquired about a partnership that has blossomed each year since. “A lot of people have holiday events there. It’s very festive and fun. It very much fits the tacky sweater party vibes,” Turner said. In 2024, the Ugly Christmas Sweater pop-ups sold more than 2,500 sweaters across three Punch Bowl Social locations, Hale said. This year, tacky sweaters are available at Punch Bowl Social locations in Dallas, Austin, Chicago and, for the first time, Denver and San Diego. The local Ugly Christmas Sweater Shop will remain open from Nov. 14 until Dec. 28 during Punch Bowl Social’s normal business hours. Sweaters range in price from $14.99 to $39.99, depending on how many bells and whistles they literally have. Turner is coy about where he sources so many vintage pieces — “The North Pole,” he quipped — but promised Denverites the best selection in town. “I have multiple thousands,” Turner said, and he made sure each pop-up has its own trove. “If you want a big variety, this is where you should go.” This isn’t the only collaboration Punch Bowl Social drummed up for the holiday season. It also partnered with Matthew McConaughey’s tequila brand, Pantalones, on a specialty cocktail called Santa Pants. The drink features Pantalones reposado, ginger beer, cranberry and lime juice “playfully garnished with a pair of Santa’s pants,” per a statement. For more information about the festive fun, visit punchbowlsocial.com/ugly-christmas-sweater-pop-up-shop.
