Idon’t have the world’s greenest thumb but I was still saddened to see that another piece of Ann Arbor is headed for the history books.

In case you missed it, Downtown Home & Garden announced late last week that Dec. 24 will be its final day of business after more than a century on S. Ashley Street.

The reasons for the closure are sadly familiar – the rent in Ann Arbor is too high and fewer people shop locally than they used to.

In a Facebook post, Downtown Home & Garden owner Kelly Vore said rent went up 26% this year and was set to go up another 12% in 2026, an uphill climb when coupled with constant competition from big box and online retailers.

As the city continues to grow up (literally as evidenced by all the new high rise builds), I can’t help but feel the city is losing some

See Full Page