Overshadowed by the "more is more" allure of big box stores and the shop-in-your-pajamas convenience of online retailers, small town America's once thriving downtown shopping districts are seeing fewer customers and too many empty storefronts.
But a new emphasis on buying local products from local merchants is leading to a quiet but steady revival in many small towns. In Ishpeming, this revival is being spearheaded by the city's Downtown Development Authority and enthusiastic local business owners.
David Aeh, chair of the city of Ishpeming's
Downtown Development Authority, has a vision for the revitalization of the city's once bustling, now placid downtown shopping district. His vision? Think small.
"We need to get people to slow down, come off the highway, and enjoy something that's a little bit different," says Aeh. He would like to see Ishpeming as home to a variety of smaller specialty shops, boutiques, and cafes.
"We need to get tourists and locals alike to see the value of these smaller communities," he says.
Citing the lower prices of merchandise sold at big box stores and the ease with which people can drive to regional shopping areas as reasons for the decline of local shopping, Aeh believes small towns cannot focus on recapturing previous business successes. Instead, business owners and potential business owners must adapt to the new dynamic.
As the owner of
Main Street Antique Mall, a three-level shop located at the corner of Main and Pearl streets in Ishpeming, Aeh has a personal stake in the successful rejuvenation of the city's shopping district. He wants downtown Ishpeming to have a welcoming feel, a distinct personality that sets it apart from bigger retailers.
"We need more attractive buildings, good sidewalks. I would like to make a more positive outward appearance to the rest of the world so they can see the community I know," Aeh says. He envisions a downtown with "Most storefronts occupied all the time, adequate parking for visitors and those who work here. A safe, pleasant environment."
Efforts by the DDA to attract more people downtown include annual events such as the Festival of Treasures, Ladies Night, and a Christmas parade, as well as the Downtown Concert Series. Putting its money where its heart is, the DDA also offers a matching grant to encourage new businesses to invest in older, historic buildings. Business owners present the DDA with their plans, follow the grant's guidelines, and are provided with 50 percent of the funds they need for renovation.
Pam Perkins, owner of
Rare Earth Goods, took advantage of the grant. Her shop, located at 200 E. Division St., features everything from tie-dyed onesies to blueberry soap to organic foods. Rare Earth, says Aeh, "is not just a store; it's an experience."
Perkins's focus on locally produced goods is a testament to her affection for her hometown and her desire to see its rebirth. "Ishpeming needs to come back to life," she says. "We need to keep work and jobs local and help our immediate economy."
Perkins previously owned another Ishpeming business, An Artist's Outlet. A focus on selling nothing but artworks, combined with a poor location that did not attract foot traffic, led to its demise.
"I wanted for years to open another art gallery, but I needed more of a draw than just art in order to make it work."
Rare Earth's "more than art" inventory includes an array of goods eclectic enough to attract just about every type of shopper. Elegant copper art jewelry, knitted dishcloths in a rainbow of colors, handmade candles and candleholders and more vie for space in the cozy shop. A total of 89 artists presently offer their wares at Rare Earth.
With a nod to the digital age, some of the store's merchandise may also be ordered online. The store also has a
Facebook page, and offers free wireless Internet for its customers.
The shop is also a hub for fledgling and experienced artists and musicians. "We do an open mic on Tuesdays. Kids come and learn to play in front of others and hone their skills. It's a great scene. Come at 7 p.m. and use the side door on First Street," says Perkins.
In addition to making and selling her own creations in the shop, Perkins teaches art classes at the back of the shop. Participants can learn to tie dye, make mosaic art pieces, and more, and she is seeking other artists to offer classes.
Small, specialized shops like Rare Earth are, Aeh believes, the key to Ishpeming's future. "You can't look back and make it what it used to be," he says. "You have to make it what it needs to be."
Deb Pascoe of Marquette is a freelance writer and a peer recovery coach for Child and Family Services of the U.P. A former columnist for The Mining Journal, her book, "Life With a View ," a collection of her past columns, is available in area bookstores.