Even after hours, Ten Thousand Villages manager Linda Viertel is soaking up every second in her store before it closes.

“It’s fair trade,” said Viertel. “It’s purpose. It’s something that makes a difference. It’s unlike any other place. You know, it’s the things aren’t machine made. They’re made by real hands and real people, and they make a difference.”

The company announced a shift toward e-commerce in January and around the same time, Stuyvesant Plaza chose not to renew its lease, making way for some popular shops to take its place.

“This is my heart,” said Viertel.

According to a recent report from Coresight Research, 2025 could see 15,000 U.S. retail locations close. Many are already increasing their online presence.

But Viertel fiercely believes in having a physical space for fair trade products, so she’s going from manager to owner of her own nonprofit, and is making plans for 518 Fair Trade Artisans.

“I have been shopping here for years,” said customer Barbara Sinacore. “I come for birthdays for people. I come for any occasion that I need a gift because I know I’m helping people from other countries who really need it. I’m going to miss the store a great deal where it is, but I’m delighted that it’s going someplace else.”

Viertel is still completing the new location, but she plans for her store to be a Ten Thousand Villages gift shop, so she’ll be a wholesale partner and will also sell items from local artists.

“I didn’t plan on starting a business at this point in my life, but this is the only way to say fair trade for Albany,” said Viertel. “And that’s the only way to save villages.”