Ten Thousand Villages Atlanta will soon shutter its Virginia-Highland storefront.
The not-for-profit retailer of products from artisans around the world who would “otherwise be unemployed or underemployed” Tuesday announced the news in a statement on its Facebook page.
“It is with great difficulty that we announce the closing of Ten Thousand Villages Atlanta after 24 wonderful years,” according to the statement.
“Business conditions for our locally-funded brick and mortar shop have changed dramatically since we opened in 1993, and after careful consideration of the past several years, the consistent challenges in our location, increasing competition from online shopping, and the changing retail climate, we have concluded it is time for us to cease operations.”
SInce its founding, Ten Thousand Villages has made over $3,000,000 in purchases from its artisan groups.
“We have educated our community about the importance of helping others through the purchase of ethically produced goods and we have contributed to other non-profits and charitable organizations so they can continue their good works.”
Beginning Wednesday, January 3, everything in Ten Thousand Villages will be marked down.
“Thank you for your wonderful support of our store and mission, whether you’ve only just discovered us, or whether you’ve been with us since the beginning. Truly, we could not have accomplished this good work without you.”
3 Responses
We all say we love living in Virginia. Highland, but not really enough to support the local retail. It take a lot
of hard work to survive in the markets today. This seems to be a growing trend here. If it keeps up, it could
have a negative effect on values on down the road for the neighborhood.
I think I get what you’re saying but it’s kind of a bummer you made a post about a non-profit with a genuinely worthwhile mission going under about your property value.
I bought stuff from this place, but often out of “supporting the store”. I never said “wow I really need that artisan-made plant cozy, it would look great next to my elephant statue made of soda cans”. I bought it because I don’t want another empty retail space.
We residents definitely have a responsibility to support nearby stores. But, why are there 23 places to get a Brazillian in Virginia Highland? Why has someone opened up a candle store?!? Who was surprised when the spice shop closed (where I also shopped out of sheer love of someone occupying a space in my neighborhood)?
I so want to buy anything I can from my nearby store. I spent $35 the other day for gift wrapping a single gift at Paper Source (an unusual type of purchase for me). I did it though—just like lots of people who live here—just to support these stores. But, us willing customers need products we want. Not over-delivered (like women’s clothing/jewelry, frozen yogurt and Brazillians). Not focused on a pick-up item you normally get somewhere else as an afterthought (like candles, spices and pies). These retailers have got to come up with some better ideas.