Meet Chill Squirrel Trading Company Owners: Jeff Shippen & Kim Mickelsen Shippen
Known for its variety, charm, and ever-changing shelves, Chill Squirrel is more than a store—it’s an experience. This “practical gift shop” has become a staple for both visitors and locals over the past six years.
Jeff and Kim Shippen each spent 37 years in corporate America—Jeff in data and Kim in marketing. Like many who fall in love with Bailey, they began as weekenders after buying a vacation home here in 2015. The peace of the mountains called them to make Bailey their full-time home, and by early 2019 they had opened the first Chill Squirrel shop above the old Coffee Shack on Hwy 285.
In 2021, they moved into their current location in Rustic Square—a bigger, brighter space that gave them room to expand and to join a cluster of other local shops. The move has allowed them to thrive, grow, and better serve the Bailey community.
Gifts, Surprises, and Something for Everyone
Chill Squirrel is more than a gift shop—it’s a place where tourists and locals alike can find something unique, practical, and fun. The shelves are filled with a wide variety of treasures—candles, cigars, jewelry, toys for kids, and gourmet food items like charcuterie boards. They also carry unique imported goods from Turkey, India, and Ghana.
What makes them stand out is not just the variety but the philosophy behind the shop: it’s designed to be a place where you can pick up a gift for any occasion—birthday, wedding, anniversary—and have it be something special you wouldn’t expect to find in a small town.
Jeff and Kim are also constantly refreshing their merchandise, learning what appeals most to their customers, and never letting their inventory go stale. Each visit feels new, which is part of the reason customers keep coming back.
From Rocky the Squirrel to a Community Symbol
The name has a heartfelt backstory. Shortly after Jeff and Kim were married, Jeff found a baby squirrel—pink, furless, and abandoned. They named him Rocky and raised him until he was ready to return to the wild. From that moment, squirrels became a symbol for them.
Pair that with the sense of calm they felt every time they turned off the highway onto 285 and left the stress of city life behind, and the name “Chill Squirrel” was born. It’s playful, memorable, and a little mysterious—so much so that people often stop in just to learn what it means.
What Makes Chill Squirrel Special
- Constantly changing inventory—there’s always something new to discover
- Affordable pricing—often below suggested retail
- Something for everyone—from tourists to locals, kids to grandparents
- Special orders available—if they don’t carry it, they’ll try to get it for you
- Community connections—active on social media, but mindful not to flood local feeds
Thriving Through Challenges and Change
Opening right before COVID in 2019 tested their resilience, but Chill Squirrel pulled through and celebrated six successful years in March 2025.
One of their biggest ongoing challenges has been letting locals know they’re here. Even now, people who have lived just down the road for years are discovering Chill Squirrel for the first time. Despite that, their reputation continues to grow, fueled by loyal regulars, repeat visitors from Denver, Evergreen, Conifer, and beyond, and seasonal residents who make the shop one of their first stops when they return to town.
Jeff and Kim are most proud of their ability to adapt, evolve, and stay strong despite economic ups and downs.
Family, Community, and the Joy of Connection
Chill Squirrel is about more than selling gifts—it’s about people. Jeff and Kim love connecting with tourists from all over the world, as well as building relationships with their Bailey neighbors.
Outside of the shop, they enjoy traveling, exploring Colorado’s mountains and hidden gems, and—most importantly—spending time with their grandchildren: twin 6-year-old grandsons in Denver and a 1-year-old grandson in Omaha.
Advice for New Business Owners
“You cannot build it and think they will come,” Kim says. “You have to market yourself, get involved in the community, and create a compelling reason for people to visit you.”
Fun Fact
Squirrel lovers are drawn in by the name. Squirrel haters? They come in too—out of curiosity. Either way, the name works, and everyone leaves with a smile (and usually a bag in hand).
Plan Your Visit
You’ll find Chill Squirrel at 47 County Rd 68, in Rustic Square behind Casa Sanchez.
They are open 7 days a week from 10am to 5pm.
