July 7, 2023

A downtown gift shop featuring the work of artisans from Guatemala is changing its business model and will wind down operations at its Sioux Falls store.

Sharing the Dream in Guatemala will consolidate its two stores into one in Vermillion. The location inside the Jones421 Building at 421 N. Phillips Ave. will close once a new tenant is found.

The fair trade marketplace has been open since 2018 and dates back to the 1990s in Vermillion.

“This decision was made after reviewing the resources available to us as well as studying the changing retail environment,” said Lauren Vaske, executive director of Sharing the Dream in Guatemala.

“Our Vermillion store will continue a physical presence, and we will expand our online and wholesale markets and outreach opportunities in order to continue to meet our mission of supporting artisans in Guatemala.”

Pop-up locations will be expanded in the South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa region, she said.

“We have loved every minute of our Sioux Falls presence and hope that our customer base will continue to follow us in these different venues,” Vaske said.

The 580-square-foot space is adjacent to one of the building’s entrances and across from The Source.

“This beautiful suite is perfect for incubating your new business,” Vaske said, adding there is built-in shelving on the west wall and an option to purchase the movable wooden checkout counter and movable wooden shelves with storage cupboards.

Customers can keep track of future events through the shop’s Facebook page.