Man Accused of Starting Fire Outside Wax Trax Records in Capitol Hill
Wax Trax Records in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood is dealing with major damage after a man was caught on security video allegedly starting a fire outside the shop early Saturday morning. The incident happened near the store’s dumpster on East 13th Avenue, and the business says the fire caused serious problems that will take days to fully fix.
According to a social media post from Wax Trax Records, security footage shows a man standing near the dumpster as flames begin burning inside it around 2 a.m. Saturday. While the fire itself was outside, the impact quickly spread beyond the dumpster area and ended up damaging key electrical components connected to the building.
The record store said the fire knocked out power to the property and damaged incoming power lines, leaving the shop without reliable electricity. The outage has disrupted several day-to-day operations, including the ability to sell and process records, along with basic necessities like lighting and heat.
Because of the damage, Wax Trax Records was forced to close early Saturday. The store said it planned to reopen Sunday, operating temporarily on generators. However, the shop noted that the power system cannot be repaired until Tuesday, meaning the disruption will continue for several days.
Co-owner Pete Stidman told Fox31 the situation is especially frustrating because this isn’t the first time something like this has happened. He said the store has dealt with multiple incidents involving fires that have damaged the business and interfered with operations, calling this at least the fifth time they’ve been hit by something similar.
Stidman added that while the situation is serious, his response comes from a place of compassion. He said he hopes whoever is responsible can be identified, not only to protect the business, but also because the repeated incidents create real danger for surrounding people, properties, and livelihoods.
Wax Trax Records remains a longtime Denver staple, and the owners say they are working to push forward while repairs are completed. In the meantime, they’re asking for support and awareness as they deal with the ongoing impact from the fire.
