Literati Bookstore Signs Lease for New Downtown Location

The bookstore will transition to 210 South Ashley, creating a new destination for Ann Arbor shoppers starting in 2027.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Openings & Closings

Historic brick retail building exterior with arched windows on a tree-lined street in Ann Arbor. — Literati Bookstore has signed a lease for a new location at 210 South Ashley in downtown Ann Arbor, with plans to transition fully by 2027. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you prefer independent bookstores to remain in their original historic locations?

Literati Bookstore has signed a lease for the downtown building at 210 South Ashley, the former home of Downtown Home and Garden. The bookstore will launch a pop-up location at the site for the 2026 holiday season before completing a full move in 2027.

Why it matters

The transition represents a significant expansion for the independent retailer from its current Fourth and Washington storefront. For downtown operators, the shift highlights the ongoing turnover of legacy retail spaces following the late 2025 closure of the century-old Downtown Home and Garden.

The bookstore has secured a new footprint at 210 South Ashley, succeeding a long-standing local business that shuttered after the 2025 holiday season. The move follows the store's decade-long growth from its current 2019-established location at Fourth and Washington.

The players

Literati

An independent bookstore operator currently located at Fourth and Washington in Ann Arbor.

Downtown Home and Garden

A long-standing local retailer formerly known as Hertler Brothers that closed in December 2025.

The details

Literati plans to phase into the new facility by first hosting a pop-up storefront during the 2026 holiday season. This staggered approach allows for gradual integration into the downtown corridor while the company prepares for a permanent transition from its current location in 2027. The site at 210 South Ashley was historically known as the home of Hertler Brothers, which later operated as Downtown Home and Garden.

December 23, 2025: Downtown Home and Garden closes its doors.
October 26, 2026: Literati officially announces the new lease.
Holiday Season 2026: Temporary pop-up store opens at the new site.
2027: Bookstore scheduled to move into the building permanently.

Market Landscape

The bookstore's move fills a high-profile retail vacancy following the 2025 closure of Downtown Home and Garden. This transition follows the established pattern of specialized retailers expanding into legacy downtown commercial spaces in Ann Arbor.

Business owners in the vicinity should prepare for increased foot traffic once the 2026 pop-up operations begin. Retailers should monitor the shifting dynamics of downtown occupancy as legacy spaces continue to transition toward newer commercial tenants.

The takeaway

The move underscores the importance of securing legacy real estate to capture long-term growth in established downtown corridors. Operators should track the conversion of former general-retail footprints into destination stores to gauge shifts in local consumer demand.