An explosion of tie dye greets people when they enter the Peace Place, a small business owned by resident Katie DeGroot who strives to make her shop quintessentially her own by filling it with love, inclusivity and local art.  

Located at 4300 South Broadway in Englewood, DeGroot opened the Peace Place in October of 2020 after leaving the world of corporate accounting and becoming passionate about creating wearable art.  

“I’ve always loved tie dye and I started doing tie dye as therapy to get me into a new chapter of life not ever foreseeing (the store) as it is now,” DeGroot said. “I’ve created this amazing thing.” 

Originally from Aurora, DeGroot has loved both tie dye and Englewood all her life and she said she first made a business out of her art in 2018 by selling her products at festivals and shows. 

“I thought it would be cool to have my own retail store,” she said. “Then 2020 hit and everything canceled so I knew to keep it going that’s what I had to do.” 

DeGroot was able to take over the lease of the store and “make it happen.” 

“It all just kind of fell into place. I didn’t have a five-year plan, I just kind of figured it out as I went,” DeGroot said.  

DeGroot said her business has thrived over the last three years and every day her operation and art evolve.  

"I think every day my art gets better. I bring in new types of items based on the feel and what people are wanting at that time and I try to find sustainable items and quality items to be able to dye them,” DeGroot said.  

There are many items within the Peace Place that have DeGroot’s colorful stamp on them because “if it can be dyed (she) will dye it.” 

“I stock everything in the store from brand new babies to six X adults, and it ranges from t-shirts to dresses to pants to hats and bags and really anything I can find that I think will be fun,” DeGroot said.  

DeGroot has stocked her store with only handmade items from her own art and about 15 other local artists, most of which are women, she said.  

“When I opened this place up the local art community was obviously was not in a good situation,” DeGroot said. “So, I brought in people to have space here that I believed in them, and I believed in their art to help out as much as I could.”  

DeGroot said she also stocks her store with items for everyone because her store is an inclusive safe space. 

“I make it a point to include everyone. I have young and old and everyone in between,” she said.  

With her own art, DeGroot said she is often inspired by nature, and she is constantly coming up with one-of-a-kind designs and patterns. 

“I just put so much love into each piece that I think people can feel that as well,” she said. “I just do what I feel, and it talks to me a lot.” 

She said it’s usual for her to have a plan for a design and for that plan to change and transform.  

“You always have an idea of how it’s going to look once you wash it out but it’s always amazing to see it as well and see how it turns out,” she said.  

DeGroot said the community has responded positively to her shop over the last three years. 

“I never imagined when I opened this shop the amount of love and support that I would receive back,” DeGroot said. “I knew what I would be giving, and I knew what I would be putting out there of myself, but Englewood is such an amazing place.” 

She said Englewood is full of “love and family” and through her shop she has met so many friends, fellow artists and community members. 

DeGroot said she loves seeing people wearing her art when she is out and about. 

“It’s all over the place and I walk through the store, and I hear, ‘there’s the tie dye lady,”’ DeGroot said. “It’s pretty neat.” 

While she loves her work, Degroot said it can be a lot being a one-woman operation. 

“Running this entire business and making everything for it it’s just a little overwhelming,” DeGroot said. “I find ways to make it work and my life has turned into work all the time which is fine. I love this and I am so happy to be able to do this.”  

Though she has a brick and mortar, DeGroot said she still frequents local festivals and shows to sell some of her items. She often takes out the “Peace Addict Tie Dyes” bus which is a mobile expansion of her business.  

Going forward DeGroot hopes to expand the mobility of her store and she will continue to make the Peace Place her own. 

“People come in here because it’s me and what I put into everything, so I’ll continue to make it just mine,” she said. 

Additionally, DeGroot will remain at her shop as long as she can “spread love and do good and (spread) peace and art.” 

“I’ve turned (the store) into a safe spot and a community minded place as well that I think it’s more than just buying an article of clothing,” she said. “I think people come in here for the friendship and the love and the kindness and the color and how it affects everyone.” 

For more information visit peaceaddictlife.com.