Fair trade retailer Ten Thousand Villages closing in Ann Arbor after 2 decades

Posted by author February 11, 2025 Shopping

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After two decades of bringing ethically sourced, handcrafted goods to the community, Ten Thousand Villages in Ann Arbor will close its doors on March 30, citing financial pressures and evolving shopping habits.

Since 2004, the nonprofit fair trade store at 303 S. Main St. has been a community hub, promoting global craftsmanship and ethical shopping. Largely volunteer-run, it has offered handmade jewelry, home decor, kitchenware, fair trade foods, and more while helping artisans in more than 20 countries earn sustainable wages.

However, store representatives say that in recent years, declining foot traffic, rising operating costs, and a shift toward online shopping have made it increasingly difficult for them to remain viable.

“It’s kind of been a long time coming, in a way. After COVID, street traffic on Main Street decreased. I think that’s true for retailers across the board,” said the store manager, Emily Carroll. “Becoming financially sustainable became too difficult with rising rent and the changes in retail.”

Ten Thousand Villages, which has several locations nationwide, ensures artisans from Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East receive 50% of the payment upfront and the rest once their products are shipped to the U.S., Carroll said. This provides skilled workers in marginalized communities with a stable market for their goods, supporting fair trade practices globally.

Marcia Strong, a volunteer at the Ann Arbor store for 19 years, said she and other volunteers are devastated by the closure.

“It is like a wake as customers come in this week, telling (us) how much the store meant, how their family members from out of town always want to come to this store, special objects in their homes such as menorahs and nativities came from this store, and the fun of bringing children and grandchildren to the store to explore and learn of other cultures,” Strong told the Free Press in an email. “The real loss, of course, is to the artisans in the marginalized countries who depend upon our sales for their livelihood, their ability to send their children to school, to build wells in their community, to have good housing and to build a better life.”

As part of a farewell sale, everything at Ten Thousand Villages in Ann Arbor is 30% off, with additional markdowns expected until the store closes at the end of March.

In addition to the Main Street location, 13 company stores will close as Ten Thousand Villages shifts to online sales, Carroll said.

The chain is headquartered in Akron, Pennsylvania, and will still have more than 20 locations in 10 U.S. states and three in Canada.

The fair trade store will close just weeks before another Ann Arbor retailer, 16 Hands, shuts its doors after 50 years at 407 N. 5th Ave. in Kerrytown Market & Shops. Owner Jill Damon is retiring to focus on her own art and personal life, and the store will officially close on Saturday, April 19.

Customers can continue shopping at Ten Thousand Villages online and at the remaining stores. The closest locations to Michigan are in Ohio, Illinois and Indiana.

“Together, we’ve shown that ethical shopping is not just possible—it’s transformative,” the Ten Thousand Villages of Ann Arbor board said in a news release. “The vibrant community of Ann Arbor has been a source of inspiration and joy, and we are so grateful for your support over the past two decades.”

Nour Rahal is a trending and breaking news reporter. Email her: nrahal@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @nrahal1.