Tattered Cover began in 1971. The Colfax store opened in the renovated historic Bonfils Memorial Theatre also known as Lowenstein Theatre, which was open 1953-1986. The building was vacant for two decades until 2006 when Tattered Cover moved in.

It is fun to wander around the building looking at remnants of the theatre such as lighting fixtures and a curtain. Stand on the stage and look out at what would have been the audience and imagine performing. It is cool to walk around gazing at the building while looking for a book to buy.