If the Dylan McKay from 15 years ago could see himself now, it’s safe to say he’d be surprised. Growing up with a “hippie mom,” McKay was initially a skeptic toward medicinal herbs. He likely never imagined that one day his morning routine might involve brewing a custom herbal tea blend and packing up his hand-crafted candles to bring to his very own apothecary.
Now celebrating 9 years as co-owner of Terra Apothecary, McKay has made a life for himself in the holistic space. He and co-owner Jessica Haley have cultivated an ecosystem of local vendors all paying tribute to the force the apothecary is named after: Mother Earth.
Whether it’s skincare, essential oils, tinctures, incense and burnables or their extensive herb library, McKay and Haley are intentional about bringing in vendors who use natural, high-quality ingredients (without any complicated elements they can’t pronounce).
Terra Apothecary: Origin Stories
On the list of things younger Dylan McKay couldn’t predict, his long-time partnership with co-owner Jessica Haley takes a prominent spot. While he never could have guessed that a friendship his wife gained while working at H&M would turn into a business venture, McKay and Haley discovered a like-minded collaborative spirit that became the foundation of their success.
McKay and Haley began their business as a pop-up vendor at maker’s markets. Knowing they shared an appreciation for handcrafted products, as McKay describes it, the pair started “throwing a lot of things against the wall.” They tried their hand making skincare and other holistic products before finally finding one that stuck: candle-making.
When a friend invited them to set up a booth at Fort Greene, McKay and Haley realized their humble side-project could take center focus. Now, they’re paying it forward by holding the door open for new vendors.
“We were the weirdos selling candles at a bar,” McKay recalled. “We started hustling, and we know a lot of these people are in the same boat.”
Nine years later, McKay still makes all the candles sold at their brick-and-mortar shop. Coupled with the lessons he’s learned managing the herb library for close to a decade, the practice has given him an appreciation for natural ingredients, aromatherapy and all the benefits plants can provide – unlearning the skepticism he may have held in his youth.
Now, he’s hoping to pass this appreciation and knowledge along to Terra Apothecary’s customers, a shift he’s already starting to see in his daily interactions with shop visitors.
“If you peel the onion back and go to the base ingredients, this is the original medicine,” McKay shared. “I feel like people are starting to wake up to – this isn’t new age, hippie-dippy, mumbo-jumbo stuff.”
Terra is (Not Just) a Traditional Apothecary
When it comes to established apothecary services, McKay and Haley are passionate about helping each visitor find products that work for their unique needs.
Take their herbal library for example: each jar lists 3-4 key characteristics of the herb inside, intentionally keeping the library as accessible as possible for independent browsers. However, for those who desire a bit more guidance while choosing a custom herbal blend, the owners are always happy to help.
“I love building it with the consumer because you pick the flavor, you tell me what you’re looking for. If you don’t like a certain herb, I’m not going to put it in there,” said McKay. “I don’t want you to just go home and hate this tea. It’s yours. You should go and enjoy it.”
Terra’s herbal library is one of its biggest draws, making the shop an apothecary in the truest sense of the word. But it’s also so much more, host to a scroll of vendors filling every niche from handcrafted skincare and high-quality incense and burnables to smokeable CBD and hand-drawn prints.
“I feel like almost anybody in Denver can come here and find something,” McKay shared. “We can really tweak it for each person that comes through the door.”
Currently, the shop sources products from 27 local vendors spanning essential oils, artisanal foods, hair and skincare, smokeables, herbs, home decor and art, incense and hand-poured candles. Some, like Velvet Roots Apothecary, have been a part of Terra Apothecary since the beginning, while others are newer makers that McKay and Haley are equally eager to champion.
READ: Ron Johnson Wants You To Shop Local (At Urban Provisions, Preferably)
Cultivating Community and Supporting Local Makers
Terra Apothecary’s versatility serves two major purposes: yes, it leads to a wide array of happy customers, but it’s also baked into the ethos of the shop. In McKay’s eyes, giving both new and established vendors a home for their products helps cultivate a thriving local ecosystem.
“I’ve always been mind blown and motivated by working with all these people. We love uplifting people that we love and know their products are amazing,” McKay shared. “Some of them are pop-up vendors in summer markets, where they may struggle to keep their foot in the door. We love being that space for them.”
For McKay, keeping small businesses afloat is central to preserving the soul of the community, particularly when economic factors impact the landscape of business ownership. When tariffs and inflation force change to their vendor line-up, McKay and Haley find a silver lining in opening the door for a new vendor to step in and showcase their products.
“Somebody doing what they love is so special, and I feel like that’s the end goal I want for Denver. There’s some corporate things I don’t love about Denver that took a little bit of the love out of the city that I love. Seeing some businesses that I loved when I moved here no longer here really hurts,” said McKay. “So if I am able to open the door for a new vendor to get an opportunity – I like your product. I like you. I don’t want you to go anywhere. – if I have something to do with that, that’s a win all around.”
This attitude guides the future of Terra Apothecary. Ultimately, McKay doesn’t anticipate much major change at all, instead hoping for sustainable operations he might one day pass along to his grandchildren.
Instead, Terra Apothecary remains rooted in the day-to-day, a beacon of community support shifting slowly with a changing world.
“This is the craft, hands-on experience,” McKay shared. “We’re changing with the times, with the environment, with the person to person, continuing on the path and always rotating and moving and grooving with the community.”
Denver Dive Speed Round: Dylan McKay’s Denver Staples
An anchor in his own neighborhood, McKay shared his favorite spots and underrated staples across Denver.
Favorite Denver Restaurant & Dish: Catfish Po’ Boy at Lincoln’s Roadhouse & Charred Cabbage at Sap Sua
Most Underrated Spot in Denver: Wheat Ridge Lanes
Favorite Denver Music Venue: “I’ve been going to Larimer Lounge a lot. They are still true to themselves. I do love Mission Ballroom, and of course, Red Rocks. You can’t beat Red Rocks. That is a big reason I moved here, just saw Red Rocks videos and was like, ‘Denver seems cool.’ Came here on a trip. Never looked back.”
Guilty Pleasure: Kouign-Amann at Moon Raccoon Baking Co.
Hidden Gem: Fat Batter Ice Cream (“Pistachio is the best I’ve ever had.”)
Fave Denver Dive Bar: Trash Hawk or Yacht Club
Current Go-To Product at Terra Apothecary: Candles (“I’m obviously biased.” – Cactus Jade is inspired by McKay’s childhood memories of flower shopping with his grandma, Cheryl.)
Terra Apothecary is open from 9 AM-7 PM Saturday through Monday and 11 AM-6 PM Sunday at 1452 S Broadway, Denver, CO 80210. Visit Terra Apothecary’s site to see their vendor list and shop inventory.
All photos courtesy of Terra Apothecary.
