Once forlorn and forgotten, this old commercial strip north of downtown is enjoying its second go-round as a retail district, boasting the impressive Peoples Food Co-op (216 N. 4th Ave., 734/994-9174, www.peoplesfood.coop, 8 a.m.–10 p.m. Mon.–Sat., 9 a.m.–10 p.m. Sun.), Ann Arbor’s only community-owned grocery store.

Two other popular shopping options are the colorful (if pricey) open-air Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market (315 Detroit St., 734/994-3276, 7 a.m.–3 p.m. Wed. and Sat.), where early risers will find the finest flowers and produce, and the Ann Arbor Artisan Market (315 Detroit St., 734/913-9622, www.artisanmarket.org, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Sun.), a find for arts-and-crafts lovers.

Top restaurants and interesting indoor shops also lure visitors into the Kerrytown Market & Shops (415 N. 5th Ave., 734/662-5008, www.kerrytown.com, shop hours vary), where you can browse through boutiques such as Mudpuddles, a kid’s store featuring puppets, wildlife mobiles, award-winning games, and other delights; the gourmet-inspired Everyday Cook; the 5,000-square-foot Hollander’s, the premier place for decorative paper and bookbinding supplies; and Mathilde’s Imports, offering a unique selection of women’s apparel from Latin America, Europe, and Southeast Asia.

For more information about this one-of-a-kind shopping district, contact the Kerrytown District Association (www.kerrytown.org).