Ten Thousand Villages Coming to Garden City

Ten Thousand Villages, the world's largest fair trade retailer of handmade gifts, jewelry and accessories, will open in on Sept. 30.

The Wilder Companies, the shopping center's management company, announced they had signed a lease agreement with the retailer today in a press release.

“Garden City Center offers a great opportunity to expand the mission of Ten Thousand Villages,” said Craig Schloneger, the retailer’s U.S. Chief Executive Officer.  “Ten Thousand Villages creates opportunities for artisans in developing countries to earn income by bringing their products and stories to our markets through long-term fair trading relationships.”

The lease agreement is another win for the Wilder Companies, coming on the heels of , , Destination Maternity and opening in Garden City this year. The open-air shopping center now has perhaps the strongest concentration of exclusive and destination retailers in the state. Despite losing a Borders Bookstore recently, the shopping center boasts a and a slew of mid to upscale retailers like , , , , William Sonoma and others.

“Our goal is to always stay relevant to the styles and needs of our shoppers. Ten Thousand Villages will offer our customers the experience of handcrafted jewelry, gifts and accessories and it will be their first store in the state” said Deb DiMeo, Vice President of Leasing for The Wilder Companies, the management company for the shopping center.   

The store will host a grand opening on Saturday, Oct. 8.