Shankwiler 123 gallery in Ypsilanti’s Depot Town will be closed to the public after Friday, Feb. 19.

Owner Michelle Shankwiler said she hasn’t decided if she’ll open the gallery in a new space or if she will pursue other career leads, such as working for an art nonprofit.

“I’m keeping my options open,” she said.

Shankwiler said that prior to opening the gallery, she worked and traveled with another artist for several years. She eventually decided she needed something of her own, and opened the retail space in November 2008 on a month-to-month lease, mainly looking to make some sales during that first holiday season.

Eventually, the gallery picked up a small local following, with artist receptions each month and free “Fun Friday” events for children.

Shankwiler said she expected to make more from foot traffic sales. However, after looking at the first few month’s sales, she said she found that 90 percent of her business was coming from outside Michigan via the gallery's Web site and Ebay sales.

She said she and her father, who is a financing partner in the business, looked at receipts each month and often “almost broke even” but never quite made it. She said the last few months have been especially tough.

The gallery is running special discounts on jewelry, model horses, glass bowls and other items from now until the store closes.

Shankwiler will host a closing reception from 5-7 p.m. Feb. 19 for all the gallery’s artists and their friends and family. She said Feb. 19 is the last day the store will be open to the public, but artists who need to retrieve works or customers who have put items on hold can arrange to pick up items through Feb. 21.

Sarah Rigg is a freelance writer and a frequent contributor to AnnArbor.com. You can reach her at sarahrigg@yahoo.com.