In the heart of Colorado, nestled in the time-frozen town of Hygiene, sits Low Rider. More than just a store, Low Rider is a testament to Susan McGrady’s life-long romance with travel, design and the art of curating memories.
Susan has been a curious traveler, wanderer and collector for her entire life. Moving around a lot as a child, Susan found that collecting objects created a sense of home for her wherever they were. “A set of three porcelain zebras was my first acquisition,” she says. “I’ve never lost that sense of wonder about how things are made, what inspired the maker, how they’ve lived, and how they’ve been loved.”
Entering Low Rider in Hygiene, Colorado, “you aren’t really entering my world,” says Susan. “It’s a collection of a world of makers, past and present, that is constantly changing and evolving.”
Self-defined as a retail concept store and interior design studio, Low Rider comes from humble beginnings. Once an abandoned gas station, Low Rider now stands as a modern eclectic hub. The story of its inception is as serendipitous as the items it houses. “A trip to Hygiene to store our daughter’s belongings led us to purchase the old station, on a whim,” says Susan. “It’s a testament to life’s unpredictability. You just never know where the ride will take you.”
And thus, Low Rider was born.
Emily Canova, creative consultant to Low Rider, has been a major part of Low Rider's growing presence in Hygiene. "It's been fun to collaborate with Susan to create a portal of inspiration for the community."
To get the story behind the goods? They’re hoping you ask. “We love to carry vintage and new items, jewelry, apothecary, children’s items,” Susan says. “We have everything from a 17th century dog collar, to a collection of chicken footstools, to handmade dinnerware, to vintage clothing.” The list goes on and on. “It is a reflection of traveling backroads, getting off the beaten path. There are so many interesting people to meet, with their journey to share,” she says.
“Antiques just provide a sincerity, a feeling of continuity, not just with my own world, but a connection to the past that just provides a sense of belonging to a community even though the community might be long gone.”
The store’s name, ‘Low Rider’, and its ethos are inspired by the lowrider community. Known for its classic car conversions, “the fervor and innovation at a lowrider gathering is simply breathtaking,” says Susan. “If my store can spark even a fraction of that wonder and camaraderie, I’d consider it a triumph.”
Along with her love for collecting and antiques, Susan’s passion for interior design is evident through her store and her energy itself.
With an eye for melding the modern with the antique, Susan's innate design flair became increasingly evident, leading many to seek her expertise in breathing warmth into their personal spaces. “You are the soul of your room and your home, not the objects in it,” says Susan. “The objects enhance that.”
The future of Low Rider is unknown; just the way Susan likes it. There are near future plans, like a newly opened Low Rider Gallery, introducing artists and makers to the community. They are preparing for a Low Rider Holiday Edition Shop with more gifts, vintage and new, and have Low Rider products on the horizon. However, Low Rider is all about riding through life, living in the moment and noticing all of the wonderful things around you. Not knowing what’s happening five, ten years from now? “That’s exciting!” says Susan. She reiterates: “You just never know where the ride will take you, and I love to stay open to all the possibilities of the open road."
Wednesday - Sunday: 10-6
Monday - Tuesday: Closed
7507 Hygiene Road, Longmont, CO
Instagram: @shop_lowrider
Email: info@lowrider.store