Holiday shopping is an American tradition. Looking for the best deals, people line up around stores on Black Friday to get at the goods. But what if you want to support local businesses? How about a gift that’s unique where not everyone is going to have it? Something that has a touch of Detroit ingenuity?
Well, we have you covered. Small Business Saturday is a fast-rising tradition that shines the spotlight on the local, the quirky, the small. Shopping small is a great way to not only support your local economy but also to get unique gifts for those you love (or, let’s be honest, sometimes that “gift” is for yourself … we won’t tell). Almost all of these places are also open throughout the holiday season.
Here’s the list…
hldymrkt
Pot & Box & The Detroit Bus Company are throwing the two day pop-up hldymrkt in Hamtramck. Now, this is a story in itself, but we wanted to place this at the top of the list because it is one stop where you’re going to find 35 vendors. They include everything from posters, teas, custom jewelry, art, to home goods to a bunch of other neat stuff. It’s Saturday AND Sunday at Eight and Sand and you’ll find that at 3901 Christopher Street in Hamtramck.
Shop Detroit
The 11th annual Shop Detroit event encourages people to shop at Detroit stores, not just for the holidays, but all year long. Shop Detroit will take place Saturday the 29th from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The event will offer information about local retailers, special discounts & freebies and most importantly, free shuttle service to retail options throughout greater downtown. There will also be a Build Bazaar Pop-up marketplace in the D:hive Welcome Center. The event is free but attendees are encouraged to sign up here. Parking is $3 all day in the Z-lot at 1234 Library Street in Detroit, and some of the places on this list are accessible via the shuttle.
Detroit Mercantile Company
This beautiful store on Russell Street at the northern end of Eastern Market has an amazing variety of Detroit-y things. It’s a veritable Detroit cornucopia of Made in the USA vintage, history, kitsch, shirts, amazing artifacts and ore. If you’re looking for a truly unique gift with a tie to the past, this is the stop for you. They bill themselves as the place for “provisions for the urban pioneer.” You can find them at 3434 Russell Street in Detroit.
PenzDetroit
If you’ve got a businessman or woman (or an aspiring one) in your life who needs an iPad stylus or a new case or that accessory that might stand them apart (or they’ll just remember you every time they use it), PenzDetroit has been in downtown Detroit for years. It’s a small store but the owner is friendly and seems to know just about everything when it comes to items for the day job. I recently stopped in for an umbrella that was just the perfect fit. They’re kitty-corner from the Federal building downtown at 333 West Fort, Detroit, MI. Open Saturdays as well as during the week from now until Christmas.
Busted in Detroit
You don’t have to go to Victoria’s Secret for a special something for someone anymore, you can do it here in Detroit. This store came about due to demand in the marketplace … a place to buy a bra in the D…If you’re looking for the right fit (all kinds of styles and sized anywhere from an AAA-N cup with a wide array of colors), well, here you go. Gift cards are also available. They’re in Midtown at the Park Shelton six days a week (including Saturday) and during the week at the Penobscot building. 15 East Kirby Street – Suite A, Detroit, MI
The Peacock Room
Rachel Lutz is kind of the queen of ladies everything in Detroit, or as one fan said she is the “siren of dresses! My ship crashes into your fabulous frocks.” Her store, the Peacock Room (you’ll also find it in the Park Shelton at 15 East Kirby) has everything from the right holiday cocktail dress to accessories and more.
Park by Cass and Canfield in Detroit and go shop-crazy
So there are a bunch of stores in a very close radius to each other in midtown, so much so that if we picked just one we’d feel remiss. Park you car one time by Cass and Canfield and get to shopping in this walkable area. On Cass, check out Hugh (seriously, it’s like walking into a store for James Bond and the stuff is so nice so you’ll be able to convince your spouse to actually get it), Nora (modern home goods), Cass Corridog (because your four-legged friend rocks), and Source Booksellers (a non-fiction book store in business since 1989) where you’ll be able to find everything from recipes to history to art to finance to food and more). Over on Canfield, check out City Bird (all things cute and Detroit-y) as well as the maybe not as small but still local Shinola store and next door to it, Willy’s.
Pure Detroit
This is a Detroit gifting retail staple that has been in business for more than 15 years with locations downtown at the Guardian building, the New Center in the Fisher building, and at General Motors HQ in the RenCen. It’s a Detroit-a-palooza of books, fashion items, knick knacks, bags, shelf-stable food items to ship the ex-pats in your family, and more. Here’s the Fisher Building location, but visit their website for all three. 3011 W. Grand Blvd, Detroit.
Paramita Sound
We covered these folks in an earlier post and they’re the place to buy new vinyl in the city for the music enthusiast in your life. Located in West Village, they have a curated selection of records that might just be the right thing. Find them at 1417 Van Dyke in the West Village neighborhood of Detroit.
Pewabic
This place is a Detroit landmark and every season they have new designs as well as some traditional ones that everyone loves. The trip to their shop, museum & pottery studio on Jefferson is worth it just for the experience, but if you find that right piece you should have no guilt in taking home a piece of Detroit history. It’s one of the classiest ways to show your Detroit pride, and it’ll be something you can hand down through the generations. You’ll find them at 10125 Jefferson Avenue in Detroit.
The Rust Belt Market
Another hive of activity of makers in the region is the Rust Belt Market in Ferndale. We included this option at Nine mile and Woodward because of some of the really interesting vendors including Cyberoptix Ties, Hatch Detroit winner McClary Bros. drinking and cooking vinegars, Attack Hunger (where with each item sold a food donation is made to shelters aimed at the care of at risk women and children all over Detroit), and many more vendors all under one roof. They’re another one that’s also open on Sundays as well. 22801 Woodward Ave, Ferndale
Did we miss some place you love? Shout it out in the comments. We’ll do our best to highlight it.