In a tiny space in the Jefferson Theater, there’s a store with a big heart. Innisfree World Artisans takes its name from Crozet’s Innisfree Village (www.innisfreevillage.org), a community of mentally challenged adults, and sells village residents’ crafts (woven placemats and scarves, wooden cutting boards, and granola) as well as items from Ten Thousand Villages and other fair-trade programs, which provide income to artisans in Third World countries.
 Though Inisfree World Artisans is moving down the Mall, "we’ve got a good loyal clientele and we’re hoping the Charlottesville community will continue to support the store," says Wes Andrews, Inisfree’s assistant director. |
But even idealists live in the real world. Because the Jefferson was sold to Coran Capshaw last year, Innisfree will have to move this month.
The store’s new space is on the east end of the Mall, in a building owned by local company Black Duck Land Trust. Innisfree’s assistant director, Wes Andrews, says he’s known for months that the store would lose its spot. “Mr. Capshaw is being really good and very supportive and very helpful in trying to find another location,” he says. Still, Innisfree will now be paying higher rent (Andrews wouldn’t say exactly how much higher) for a spot that probably gets less foot traffic. He feels lucky to have found any spot on the Mall that Innisfree could afford.
Innisfree volunteers will pitch in with packing. “Everybody will come and help,” says store Manager Astrid Bailey, “because it’s a community.”
What will happen with the former Innisfree space? Calls to Capshaw’s company Red Light Management were not returned by press time.
