Collected Works clothing store closes after 44 years in Ann Arbor

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The owners of Collected Works in the Kerrytown area will be closing their shop after the next vacation.

Irene Patalan and her husband Rich Thompson opened the women’s boutique in 1977. In an email, the couple said the store’s closing schedule was flexible, but they would not be ordering merchandise for the spring or summer. ‘summer.

“Our customers have grown with us. We dressed a woman for her wedding in the 80s, and her daughter in the 2010s. Our customers shared so much with us; we are a gathering place for women. Over the years, the friendships we have made with our lovely customers have been icing on the cake. These relationships have made Collected Works a trade show. We don’t just sell clothes, ”they said.

In 44 years, the store has moved to downtown Ann Arbor. It started at 303 E. Liberty St., moved from a few doors down the block, to the State and Liberty neighborhood briefly, then to the 300 block of Main Street. Collected Works finally moved to its current location at 303 Detroit Street in the Market Place building 20 years ago.

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Patalan and Thompson called their store a “fun and exciting labor of love,” adding that they were touched by decades of community support.

This support has been particularly appreciated during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the two said. They attributed the store’s survival to their customer base, noting that customers remained connected to Collected Works through weekly YouTube videos.

“Although an absolute labor of love, after 44 years it’s time for Irene to retire. Her three children grew up at Collected Works; she often told them that Collected Works was the firstborn. Now, her six grandchildren call her and her husband too, ”the statement said.

Currently, Collected Works is open from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays.