The Himalayan Bazaar Spotlight: Ann Arbor, Michigan

In 1998, Heather O’Neal went trekking to Everest Base Camp in Nepal. She met a Sherpa named Pem Dorjee. What started on a mountain trail became a partnership, a marriage, and one of Ann Arbor’s most unique small businesses.

The Himalayan Bazaar is located at 218 S Main Street in downtown Ann Arbor, and it is unlike any other shop in Michigan. Every item on the shelves was handcrafted by small-scale artisans living in remote villages throughout Nepal. Jewelry, clothing, furniture, gifts, and fair trade goods, each one made by hand using techniques passed down through generations in the Himalayan region.

Pem Dorjee Sherpa is one of the most accomplished climbers in the world. He has led trekking expeditions in Nepal since 1995. In 2005, he and his wife Moni Mulepati were married at the summit of Mount Everest at 29,035 feet, making them the first couple ever to wed on the world’s highest peak. When Pem is not guiding climbers, he is here in Ann Arbor, sharing the culture and craftsmanship of his homeland with Michigan customers.

Heather and Pem operate cultural tours and educational programs alongside the shop, giving the community a genuine connection to Nepal that goes far beyond a transaction.

Visit at thehimalayanbazaar.com or stop in on South Main Street.

Michigan Small Business Spotlight is proud to feature The Himalayan Bazaar as one of the most extraordinary small business stories in Southeast Michigan.