Fair Trade in Santa Fe (Part 2) The Ten Thousand Villages Store

Does any other Ten Thousand Villages store greet customers with chile ristras at the door?

The Ten Thousand Villages store in Santa Fe is located just a short walk from the historic Santa Fe Plaza on Galisteo St. There are many popular landmarks nearby, including the famous Coyote Cafe and Blue Corn Cafe on Water St.

A thank you for your purchase

When you first walk in the store, you immediately notice the wide variety of products available to potential customers displayed in a pleasant and spacious manner.  It's a unseasonbly warm day in Santa Fe, and the volunteer at the counter offers visitors water from a pitcher with ice and lemon wedges.  "There's coffee in the back," she says,  Then she asks all visitors whether they know about fair trade.

As is the case in most Ten Thousand Villages stores around the country, you can find wall decor, kitchen and dining items, home accents, scarves and bags, baskets and many other fair-trade items. And of course,we can't forget the coffee!

It's great to have a store that offers fair-trade products in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe area, filling the void that was left when Peacecraft closed its doors a few weeks ago.  Store manager Trish Padilla, who is responsible for the creating the beautiful displays, said this particular This Ten Thousand Villages store has been around since July of 2012.  So there was some overlap with Peacecraft.  The store in the City Different  is actually owned by Ten Thousand Villages. Some Ten Thousand villages locations are contract stores--where a local group or individual owns them, but Ten Thousand Villages provides the inventory and sets the guidelines.

Community Activities

Padilla is proud to point out that the local store is very much a community partner, with several activities at the site over the next few months.  In particular, she wants to highlight the Hispano History Month Celebration, scheduled for Oct. 17. 

Here is the full list:

September 14  1:00-4:00 p.m.
Friendship Day - Patio Reception
(local actress Marilyn Adams portrays Eleanor Roosevelt)
Special guests: Girl Scouts of Santa Fe

September 21 1:00-5:00 p.m.
International Peace Day - Patio Reception
Special guests: Women of different faiths (Mennonites of Albuquerque, Catholic Charities, Jewish Temple, Buddhist Temple, Sikhs).

October 5
Balloon Saturday  
The store will commemorate the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (Oct. 5-12)

October 17
Hispano History Month  1:00-4:00 p.m.
Special guests: Santa Fe Hispano Chamber
featuring   Rising Stars in the Southwest

October 26  1:00 -4:00 p.m.
Dia de los Muertos 
Reception  Costume Contest

November 9
Bag Day
A discount on all the products you can fit in a large paper bag  Details to be announced

November 21
Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours

Saturdays in December -gift wrapping

December 7 - Community Day  Details TBD

December 21 -Winter Solstice Celebration

Details for some of these events have not been finalized. And some of the events might be subject to change. Check on this site for updates or contact santafe@tenthousandvillages.com