ANN ARBOR – Nestled into a brick storefront at the corner of 5th Avenue and Kingsley St. in Kerrytown Shops is Found, a whimsical store similar to Anthropology, but with a rich, local feel.
Mary Cambruzzi has owned the shop since 2005. A teacher by trade, she began her love affair with vintage trinkets and displays when she had a booth set up at an antique store.
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"I liked the sustainability of re-using things that were well-made in their original form and still had good use to them," explained Cambruzzi. "I had this little antique booth over near where Trader Joe's is, and I found myself at times really wanting to rearrange other people’s booths because I love design and how products go together. It made me realize how much I enjoy display."
(Photo: Meredith Bruckner)
She made the move to a permanent store in the upstairs area of Kerrytown Shops, and it was an instant hit with locals and tourists alike.
"The concept that I developed at that time was a combination of vintage and antique things that had kind of a modern flare to them that would go with everyday living and then use artists that were using recycled and found materials. Right now that’s a big trend, but 13 years ago, it was kind of just starting."
Over time, Cambruzzi added items like candles, gifts, home goods, furniture, pillows and blankets.
Mary Cambruzzi (left) with Found team member Teresa Rogers (Photo: Meredith Bruckner)
So how did the store get its name?
"The name Found came from things in the shop that were either found at estate sales or auction sales or they were made from found materials," Cambruzzi explained. "I think the name still fits because we are a combination of unique finds."
A turning point for Cambruzzi was when she took a two-day ZingTrain seminar in which the owners of Zingerman's share their unique approach to business. Shortly after, she was offered to rent her current space.
(Photo: Meredith Bruckner)
"In January of 2015, I took ZingTrain’s two-day class that was ‘Creating a Vision of Greatness,’ and I wrote a vision for what turned out to be this space, " she said. "I put down about how many square feet I wanted, that it had historic character, that it had street level with lots of light and it was in an area where there was foot traffic. A couple months later, this place became available. And that’s one thing that the ZingTrain group and Ari in particular really talk about, is sometimes when you write your vision (down), you’re more open to possibilities."
(Photo: Meredith Bruckner)
Visitors can find vintage items like old snapshots for 50 cents and pin-back buttons throughout the store, along with newer items like locally made pottery, cutting boards and jewelry, some of which is made using repurposed materials like zippers and bike chains.
After visiting before and after the holiday decorations went up, there is no doubt the holidays are the time to visit Found. Cambruzzi pays close attention to details and has made the store a true winter wonderland. She says it's not even necessarily about celebrating Christmas but to emphasize the serene feeling of snowy winter scenes.
(Photo: Meredith Bruckner)
Throughout the holiday season, and on Midnight Madness Dec. 1, Found is offering a special it calls Merry Multiples. "We have a lot of things that are great for stocking stuffers or teacher gifts that are well priced. Anything you get in the store you can buy five and get a sixth free,” Cambruzzi said.
She also attributes her store's success to its location.
“This concept definitely works because we are in Ann Arbor. There are a lot of wonderful little shops in tiny towns in the middle of nowhere that have a similar aesthetic but wouldn’t have as many people walking through the door because Ann Arbor has so many people that come in from out of town. But also the locals have been very supportive of this shop from the very beginning.
(Photo: Meredith Bruckner)
"Kerrytown as a neighborhood has so many fabulous little shops, and I think the more concentration of great independent shops a neighborhood has, the more people are going to come and think of it when they need unusual gifts and think of it when they need things for their homes.”
Be sure to talk to Mary when you're in -- she says every item has a story. As she walked throughout the store, she explained where each and every product came from, which artist made it, where they live and who they are. It is clear she is still as passionate about her business as she was during the days when it was a small booth at an antiques shop.
(Photo: Meredith Bruckner)
(Photo: Meredith Bruckner)
(Photo: Meredith Bruckner)
(Photo: Meredith Bruckner)
(Photo: Meredith Bruckner)
(Photo: Meredith Bruckner)
(Photo: Meredith Bruckner)
(Photo: Meredith Bruckner)
Found is at 415 N. 5th Ave.
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