Holiday shopping can be one of the most stressful parts of the holidays – or it can be the best. Our Holiday Shopping Guide 2019 is up to date with the newest stores, best deals, and unique items to make your holiday gift giving easy, fun, and memorable.
Art & Home
Nine Furniture and Design
Since moving from Colorado to metro Detroit in 2017, Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas have been flipping homes and gaining fans. In September 2018, the couple opened Nine Furniture and Design, which sells vintage décor items and handmade furniture that draws inspiration from the Detroit area’s mid-century modern and Art Deco history. The shop offers reasonably priced trinkets, custom-made furniture, and full interior
design services as well. 22757 Woodward Ave., No. 110, Ferndale; 248-965-3603
Steele Angel
Another Colorado import, this relaxed lifestyle brand recently made its Birmingham debut. Steele Angel offers a wide range of giftable products for men, women, and children spanning from gemstone jewelry and fragrant bath soaps and candles to motivational artwork and decorative glassware. You’ll likely leave with a votive or two for your own home as well. 150 W. Maple Rd., Birmingham; steeleangel.com
Free Phoenix
This gift shop is filled with bohemian home décor, jewelry, and unique trinkets, like a set of Chambongs — champagne bongs. From Dec. 11 to Dec. 24, Free Phoenix will extend its hours also offering 40% off select gifts, jewelry, and décor. You can visit the permanent brick-and-mortar space, shop online, or check out its booth during a Holiday Headquarters pop-up event at the Renaissance Center. 171 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; 248-965-2914; shopfreephoenix.com
Hugh
From personal accessories to glassware, this design and lifestyle store is stocked with a constantly rotating selection of beautiful mid-century modern pieces. This season, Hugh will host a selection of the store’s top-selling items from 2019 — timepieces by Braun, vintage art and design books, and ’80s post-modern design elements — and will have extended holiday hours between Dec. 22 and Dec. 24, to accommodate any last-minute gift shoppers. 171 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; 248-965-2914; shopfreephoenix.com
Well Done Goods
The flagship store of beloved Detroit-based tie brand Cyberoptix, Well Done Goods has recently expanded into the home and lifestyle market. It’s carrying new lines of pillows, aprons, mugs, and more from designers around the globe alongside its own line ofcCyberoptix handmade apparel, which now includes T-shirts, tanks, socks, and even baby clothes. Hours will be extended the entire week leading up to Chriscmas. 1440 Gratiot Ave., Detroit; 313-404-2053; welldonegoods.com
Bow on Top
From thoughtful cards to glittering wrapping paper, these place will help make sure your gifts shine from the outside in.
Rock Paper Scissors: This fun stationery store offers gift-wrapping year-round. Pop in any day between Dec. 13 and Dec. 24 for its version of the “12 Days of Christmas,” featuring a different holiday deal each day until Christmas. 216 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-531-6264; rockpaperscissorsshop.com.
Catching Fireflies: This quirky gift store stocks an extensive collection of cards for every holiday – and other special occasions. 3117 W. 12 Mile Rd., Berkley; 248-336-2030; catchingfireflies.com
Posite Atelier: Everything here from the cards to the candles is feminine, floral, and giftworthy. 1435 Farmer St., Ste. 120, Detroit; posieatelier.com
Entertainment
Pages Bookshop
Though few and far between in metro Detroit, independent bookstores offer what Amazon and big-box stores can’t: charm. Pop into this cozy Grandmont Rosedale store for an intimate shopping experience — Pip, Pages’ house cat, will likely greet you at the door — and a selective curation of books from a variety of genres, including history, humor, poetry, and children’s literature. Typically closed on Sundays, Pages will keep its doors open seven days a week through December. 19560 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-473-7342; pagesbkshop.com
Detroit Bikes
With a 50,000-square-foot Detroit factory — the only large-scale bike frame factory in the country — Detroit Bikes designs and manufactures signature commuter bicycles made of high-strength U.S. chromoly steel. The comfy and versatile A-Type has gained a rep as the ultimate urban ride. The shops will offer deals from Dec. 16 through Dec. 31. Bikes will be 5%-15% off, and clothing and accessories will be 10% off. 1216 Griswold St., Detroit; 313-502-5883; 13639 Elmira St., Detroit; 313-646-4109; detroitbikes.com
Detroit Surf Co.
What started with a simple T-shirt expressing Detroit pride quickly grew into what’s now Detroit Surf Co. The company sells all kinds of boards — skateboards, standup paddleboards, and, yes, surfboards, all made entirely in Michigan. The company’s newest skateboard, hitting the market just in time for the holidays, will retail just under $100 Check the website for more deals. 4240 Cass Ave., No. 104, Detroit; 313-744-3727; detroitsurfco.com
Flipside Records
Whether you’re shopping for a recent vinyl convert or an old-school album junkie, this is a great place to start. The eclectic shop is overflowing with new and used LPs, CDs, and cassettes along with electronics and retro collectibles like 1960s game Behind the 8 Ball. Not sure what to get? Ask store dogs Seamus and Mira. They probably won’t answer, but they might let you scratch their heads. Flipside will be open extra hours and will offer various holiday specials. 41 E. 14 Mile Rd., Clawson; 248-585-4090; shopflipsiderecords.com
Paper Trail Books
If you’re looking for that 1985 reprint of Tom Sawyer you read in middle school, chances are you might find it among Paper Trail’s selection of over 20,000 used books. For lovers of contemporary — and especially local — literature, the shop carries the works of Detroit-based authors who have been published through local presses like Wayne State and Arcadia. Mention that you were directed to Paper Trail via Hour and you’ll also receive 20% off of your purchase. 414 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak; 248-677-4628; papertrailbooks.com
Give Proudly
A Detroit souvenir is the perfect present for the lover of all things local
Rochester-based Etsy shop For the Love of Maps sells creative prints, including many celebrating various regions of the Mitten State. For the Love of Maps assorted art prints, $24, Helium Studio, 3127 S. Wayne Rd., Wayne; 734-725-3811; heliumstudio.square.site
4 Detroit: Four Chefs. Four Courses. Four Seasons (Nora Modern, 2017) features recipes from the founding chefs at four of Detroit’s culinary heavyweights — Gold Cash Gold, Takoi, Supino, and Selden Standard. $46, Nora, 4240 Cass Ave., Detroit; 313-831-4845; noramodern.com
Looking for a unique way to proclaim Detroit pride? Each of Well Done Goods’ one-of-a-kind manhole items is hand-printed using the city’s actual manhole covers. Manhole Cover Women’s Cropped Pullover Hoodie, Detroit Tire Print, $49, Well Done Goods, 1440 Gratiot Ave., Detroit; 313-404-2053; welldonegoods.com
Food & Drinks
Gateaux Patisserie
This family-owned Dearborn pastry shop — a classic French patisserie and tea room that bakes everything fresh on site — will offer exclusive creations for the holidays, like its Busche de Noel, traditional yule log cake, and Ispahan Cake, which is a larger version of the shop’s most popular pastry, layered with rose and cream cheese buttercream. Don’t miss their Parisian hot chocolate, made with Valrhona chocolate. Or take a shopping break with an afternoon tea service from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. daily. 1004 S. Military St., Dearborn; 313-930-1113; gateauxpatisserie.com
Mrs. Mason’s Co.
Nutty, buttery, sweet, and salty, Mrs. Mason’s Luscious Temptation’s Premium Brittles are now available in two new flavors right in time for the holidays: Orang’ You Sweet and Dark Coffee Brittle. Mrs. Mason’s will also introduce new packages of bulk brittle, exclusive for the holiday season. Old favorites are back too, including the traditional holiday wrap — a golden box topped with a crimson bow — so beloved by customers. 619 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak; 248-660-0675; mrsmasons.com
Bateel
With an extensive selection of gourmet dates, cookies, and fine chocolates, Bateel is a can’t-miss stop for the sweet-toothed foodie on your list. Its selection melds European culinary heritage with traditional Arabic flavors, all updated with a contemporary flair. Try the popular Christmas tree-shaped box or customizable Christmas boxes filled with
elegant dates and chocolates. 215 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-885-8006; bateelusa.com
The Cheese Lady
With locations in Rochester, Farmington, and more, The Cheese Lady has been bringing metro Detroit a taste of Europe since 2011. For the holidays, they’re offering pairing packs of wine and cheese, in partnership with Rochester Wine. And if you don’t know your Appenzeller from your Cambozola, fear not. The Cheese Lady’s staff will happily make up a gourmet cheese tray or gift basket that’s sure to please. 33041 Grand River Ave., Farmington; 248-957-9581; 302 W. University Dr., Rochester; 248-413-5758; thecheeselady.net
Holiday Market
Once a small neighborhood butcher shop and specialty store, Holiday Market has grown over the years into a 60,000-square-foot store. It’ll be offering special deals for the season and 10% off select deli party trays until Dec. 31, 20% off all online grocery orders (excluding alcohol), and 15% off BBQ Smokehouse parties. Wine will also be discounted the week of and before Christmas. Holiday Market was named Best Gourmet Market and Best Place to Buy a Cake in Hour’s Best of Detroit 2018. 1203 S. Main St., Royal Oak; 248-541-1414; holiday-market.com
Shop The Bubbly
Decoding the difference between Maison and Grower Champagne
Farm eggs, single-origin coffee, farm to table, heritage apples — these are just a few of the labels many of us seek out in the food we buy. They let us know that those products are direct from the source and specific to a certain quality that is related to terroir. It’s not new to want to know where our food comes from and what methods of farming produced it. If we’re so particular with what we eat, why would we not extend this interest to what we drink? With champagne, the labels Grower and Maison can help.
Grower or “farmer fizz,” unlike Maison or “house” champagne, is direct from the source of its birth. Having passed through fewer hands, we can experience the life of the grape, its relationship to terroir and farmer, the varying characteristics from its vintage and its vinification process. Much like albums from singer-songwriters, we get to experience the journey of the artist and what she is experiencing in her growth. Contrary to Grower, Maison champagne is much like today’s top 40, where the lyrics and musical compositions are pre-written, not by the artist, using a palatable formula that has been well received by the masses and duplicated from record label to record label. For Grower champagne, I highly recommend Pierre Gerbais, André Clouet, and Bruno Paillard, who are fairly accessible here. Another benefit of Grower champagne is the price point, which I’ve found to be more affordable, especially considering the quality. —Lelañea Fulton
Clothing & Accessories
Ted Baker
The story goes that young Ted Baker came up with the idea to launch a specialty shirt shop while fishing in 1987. In the decades that have followed, Baker’s vision has expanded into an international fashion house — with a location that opened in Somerset this May — and is now one of the best places to find contemporary men’s and women’s clothing imbued with British sensibility. 2800 W Big Beaver Rd., Somerset North, Level 2, Troy; 248-530-9242; tedbaker.com
Good Neighbor
Monroe native Carli Goltowski opened her downtown boutique in November 2018 aiming to bring stylish, reasonably priced clothes with a social conscience to metro Detroit. Good Neighbor’s featured brands practice mindful sourcing and ethical manufacturing, and a percentage of the proceeds goes to charity. The shop is rolling out new brands, including the wallet and everyday essentials maker Bellroy, Australian womenswear designer Elk, and athleticwear brand Girlfriend Collective. Stop by Dec. 5 for a holiday party featuring local men’s fashion influencer Ty Davis. 1435 Farmer St., Ste. 115, Detroit; 313-788-7800; shopgoodneighbor.com
Petite Cabane
After walking runways in Milan, Paris, and London as a fashion model, Grosse Pointe native Carrie Martin returned home and set up shop in Birmingham. Her boutique, which opened this March, features a timeless selection of children’s clothing, shoes, and accessories inspired by her time abroad. For those overwhelmed by the store’s selection — it’s filled with European brands like Bonton and Petit Nord — Martin offers bespoke gifting and styling services to help you pull together a wardrobe to capture your little one’s unique personality. Petite Cabane will host a Christmas Storytime on Dec. 21. 205 E. Maple Rd., Birmingham; 248-792-7979; petitecabaneshop.com
Eldorado General Store
Eldorado General Store, in the heart of Corktown, offers rare vintage finds including men’s and women’s clothing, handmade accessories, worldly housewares, and found trinkets. Owner Erin Gavle, who pegs herself as a “creative mind” and “gypsy soul,” is the hand behind El Dorado’s carefully curated merchandise. Gavle tags each item with the era and location from which it was sourced to give customers a sense of the piece’s history — making a gift from here all the more special. 1700 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-784-9220; eldoradogeneralstore.com
Final Touches
From perfumes to polishes, compliment your fashion purchased with beauty goodies for the trendsetters on your list
The Lip Bar
This vegan, cruelty-free cosmetics retailer sells more than just punchy-colored lipsticks. Its Fast Face kits — six products that are guaranteed to have your face flawless in seven minutes — are perfect for any time-pressed makeup lover. 1435 Farmer St., Ste. 122, Detroit; 313-506-9679; thelipbar.com
Le Labo
Try the New York-based perfume brand’s newest scent, Baie 19, which is layered with notes of juniper berry, green leaves, patchouli, and a whiff of petrichor. 1434 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-816-5600; lelabofragrances.com
Rugged Beauty
Nail color that’s environmentally friendly, free of harsh chemicals, and comes in dozens of pigmented shades? Count us in. weareruggedbeauty.com
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