Security camera footage and posts from the shop show a man allegedly setting a fire in a dumpster behind Wax Trax Records’ Capitol Hill storefront around 2 a.m. Saturday. The blaze damaged electrical gear that supplies power to the building, forcing the longtime East 13th Avenue shop to close early while crews assessed the damage. Staff said they planned to run the store on generators, allowing customers to continue buying records and processing transactions during the repairs. Owners and neighbors said the incident was especially alarming for a small business that has been a neighborhood fixture for decades.
Security Video Shows Dumpster Going Up In Flames
As reported by KDVR, the shop posted security-camera video that appears to show a man lighting a dumpster outside the Capitol Hill store at about 2 a.m. Saturday. The clip, shared publicly on the shop’s social channels, reportedly captures the incident from start to finish. Following the fire, the store announced that it would close early while staff and emergency crews evaluated the situation.
Capitol Hill Flagship Is A Longtime Neighborhood Anchor
Wax Trax’s website lists the flagship Capitol Hill address as 638 E. 13th Avenue, and the family-owned shop has been a neighborhood mainstay for decades. The business has grown beyond the original spot to other metro locations, including a Broadway outpost and a Stanley Marketplace kiosk, according to the store and reporting by Denverite.
Power Knocked Out, Store Leans On Generators
Per KDVR, the fire damaged the building’s power supply, limiting Wax Trax’s ability to light, heat, and process sales. The store posted that it planned to operate on generators on Sunday so it could keep serving customers while crews worked on repairs, and that power restoration could stretch into Tuesday.
How Colorado Law Treats Arson
If prosecutors bring charges, Colorado law treats intentionally setting fires that damage buildings as serious felonies. First-degree arson, defined as knowingly burning a building or occupied structure of another, is a felony that can carry multiple years in prison under state law, according to the Colorado statutes. Lesser arson-related offenses and criminal mischief can also apply, depending on intent and the extent of the damage.
For now, Wax Trax is focused on repairs and keeping the shop open for customers while the neighborhood waits for updates. The store’s social posts and the coverage cited here provide the most complete account so far, and officials have not released additional details publicly. Anyone with relevant footage or information is encouraged to contact local authorities.
