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Posted on Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 5:57 a.m.

New retail shop moving into ex-16 Hands on South Main Street in downtown Ann Arbor

By Lizzy Alfs

The owners of a retail shop in Tecumseh recently signed a lease to open a new location on South Main Street in downtown Ann Arbor.

The store, Rock Paper Scissors, plans to open in the former 16 Hands galley space at 216 S. Main St. by June 1, said co-owner Lisa Roberts.

rock_paper_scissors_16_hands.jpg

Rock Paper Scissors plans to open in the former 16 Hands space on South Main Street by June 1.

Lizzy Alfs | AnnArbor.com

Roberts described Rock Paper Scissors as a gift shop with an eclectic mix of products. From wine glasses with a chalkboard base to personalized stationery and wedding invitations, Roberts said the store keeps it “fun and fresh.”

“We don’t have a lot of stuff that other people would carry,” she said. “We pride ourselves on finding unique and fun items. We have a sense of humor, too.”

The roughly 2,300-square-foot space has been vacant since last summer when 16 Hands moved to a new location in Kerrytown Market & Shops after 20 years on Main Street. The gallery now shares a second-floor space with Hollander’s Kitchen & Home.

Jim Curtis of Curtis Commercial LLC, the landlord of the Main Street space, said he took time to ensure the right tenant took over this “prime location.”

The right tenant, he said, was a non-food user because of the already extensive mix of restaurants in the downtown Ann Arbor area.

rock_paper_scissors.jpg

Part of the Rock Paper Scissors store in Tecumseh.

Photo courtesy of Rock Paper Scissors

“We have been very selective of the next tenant within this space,” Curtis said. “Our objective was non-food and a product line that would enhance the downtown, be different and unique, as well as secure the space with a quality tenant.”

Curtis said Lisa, along with her mother Ann Mattison, met all of these “necessary elements.”

Roberts — who is the daughter of Michigan football defensive coordinator Greg Mattison — grew up in Ann Arbor and went to Pioneer High School.

She opened her first Rock Paper Scissors location in October 2011 in Tecumseh, where she now lives with her husband and daughter. Since opening, Roberts said sales have far exceeded her expectations.

“If you would have asked me last October if we’d open two stores in one calendar year, I would not have said yes,” Roberts said. “But we’ve had a good run in Tecumseh, and it just seemed like the right time and the right location.”

She added: “The foot traffic, the quality of other businesses that are downtown (Ann Arbor), the energy and the excitement make it seem like such a perfect fit.”

Renovations are currently under way at the Main Street space, including installing new floors, painting and other basic changes.

Roberts said she plans to hire three additional employees to work at the store.

Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.

Comments

Diane

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 6:11 p.m.

welcome

Maxwell

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 3:54 p.m.

Nice to see an independent retail establishment move in! I wish them luck!

Dexter Bear

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 2:12 p.m.

This is the kind of fun, locally-owned shop Ann Arbor needs more of! Congratulations on your new store!!!

Janis

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 12:58 p.m.

I'm excited about another "tschotke" shop on Main Street. If I want regular, I'll go to Briarwood. Ann Arbor is unique and fun and shouldn't have routine. Thanks to Curtis for remembering that.

Liz

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 11:12 a.m.

"Stationary" should be "stationery" with an "e." One can remember because one writes a letter on stationery -- both with "e."

DBH

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 4:43 p.m.

I am surprised one of your copy editors did not catch that error. It is a common misspelling.

jscd91

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 3:18 p.m.

I always remember it because envelope starts with "e" and stationery needs envelopes!

Lizzy Alfs

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 12:45 p.m.

Thanks, Liz! I'll never forget that one now. :)

DOT

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 11:04 a.m.

Thanks for the retail, Jim Curtis and Ann Mattison!