Colorado Favorites: Friends of The Midnight Oil Bookstore edition

Oct. 3, 2025

Note: Direct quotes were edited for typos, to observe AP style guidelines and to fit the listicle structure.

The Midnight Oil Bookstore, a community-oriented business and advocate, prioritizes connecting with other Greeley-based businesses.

For this week’s “Favorites” entry, Cherry Martinez, the store’s general manager, is shouting out a few he knows well.

1. NoCo 3D Prints

The Midnight Oil Bookstore owns and houses NoCo 3D Prints, a business that produces the store’s 3D printed products and sells shipments to other companies nationwide.

Martinez said NoCo 3D prints ships one to eight orders every week to other bookstores across the country.

Their products, which are available wholesale, range from bookends to keychains and fidgets. They are also open to custom requests.

More information on NoCo 3D Prints can be found on their Instagram page and Linktree.

1.5. The Downtown Armory

According to Retro 102.5, The Downtown Armory is a community space full of shops, eateries and arts experiences.

They have a stage for performances and events, upstairs seating, pieces from a century of their history displayed throughout the space and more.

The Midnight Oil has two locations in Greeley, one of which is in The Armory. Martinez highlighted some of the other businesses occupying spaces there, which are numbers two through five on this list.

2. Figgy Twig Specialties

Figgy Twig’s website showcases their selection of plants, plant care products, décor and wearable accessories.

They also have a plant care service, through which they help customers select plants that fit in their homes or workspaces, place them and care for them on a subscription plan.  According to their website, plans start at $179.

More information on what Figgy Twig Specialties has to offer, including their current inventory, is available on their website.

3. Black Box Arts Collective

According to their website’s “About” page, Black Box Arts Collective is made up of artists who create works with whatever is available to them and serve the community by amplifying local voices and offering easy access to the arts.

Community members can submit their art to show in The BlackBox Gallery Space or feature in their zine. They also host occasional auditions for projects.

The collective hosts frequent poetry-sharing events, workshop opportunities, critiques, musical performances and more.

An event calendar and more information on Black Box Arts Collective can be found on their website.

4. Shinobi’s Paninis

Shinobi’s sells a range of menu items, and they offer a brunch menu on select days. According to a post on their Facebook page, their menus feature breakfast burritos, French toast, musubi, rice bōls and more.

Martinez added that the restaurant has rotating specials, noting he has seen items like a cucumber salad and a Hawaiian noodle bowl make an appearance.

Those interested can visit their Facebook page to view more of their menu items.

5. Cauldron Espresso

Cauldron Espresso’s Instagram bio describes them as “a cozy little espresso bar.” They sell matcha, hot and cold coffee drinks, chai, lemonades, baked goods and more.

Martinez shouted out their peach matcha, explaining that Cauldron makes several of their drink syrups and uses fresh peaches from a local farmer’s market for that drink.

Cauldron Espresso posts photos of some of their offerings and Armory event announcements on their Instagram page.