Fair-trade nonprofit Ten Thousand Villages to close Richmond store

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Ten Thousand Villages, a nonprofit organization focused on fair trade goods and highlighting the work of artisans, is closing 13 brick-and-mortar stores so it can focus on online sales -- including one in Richmond. The city's Ten Thousand Villages is currently located at 3201 W. Cary Street. 8News previously learned that the store had almost closed its doors in 2023 due to low sales, but it was revitalized via help from the community. Now, according to a Jan. 9 press release, it will officially be closing -- alongside 12 other locations across America. These closures will allow the company to "restructure its support office, as it shifts focus to e-commerce growth and wholesale partnerships," according to a press release. The Branch Museum celebrates 10th year with new name and new leader "This strategic move supports the organization's mission of collaborating with artisans in underserved communities while adapting the organization to grow digital distribution sales channels and support its network of licensed stores," the release reads. Another Virginia location in Charlottesville, currently located at 105 W Main Street, will also be closing. Here are the11 stores outside of Virginia that will close on March 31: Albany, NY Burlington, VT Charlottesville, VA Intercourse, PA Media, PA Montreat, NC Northampton, MA Philadelphia, PA Portsmouth, NH San Antonio, TX West Hartford, CT Austin, TX