Looking for a special gift for a special someone? Specialty shops in The Village, on The Hill, along Mack Avenue and beyond are likely to yield the results you’re looking for.
Here are a few of the ways to shop local this holiday season:
Edmund T. AHEE Jewelers
AHEE Jewelers, 20139 Mack, Grosse Pointe Woods, has extended hours and stepped-up customer service for the holiday season.
The family-owned business is committed to giving the best service during the holidays. Additionally, the shop features a musician playing piano every day, instead of just Saturdays when the player is typically in.
Due to COVID-19, AHEE cannot offer the champagne usually served to guests as they shop the jeweler during the holidays. Staff is asking shoppers to wear a mask as they peruse the store.
This season, Stefan Ahee says shoppers are most drawn to classic, timeless pieces.
“People don’t know when they can dress up again,” he said. “Jewelry lasts forever.”
AHEE has extended its hours for the holiday season. The store is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. The store also will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Christmas Eve and closed Christmas day. Normal hours will resume after the Christmas holiday.
Lou’s Pet Shop
Lou’s Pet Shop, 20779 Mack, Grosse Pointe Woods, has geared up for the holiday season with its “12 Days of Christmas” special aimed at getting its customers excited for Christmas, as well as helping out a local charity.
“12 Days of Christmas” kicked off Saturday, Dec. 12, with a donation contest to the Old Newsboys Goodfellow Fund in Detroit. The fund promotes gift-giving during the holiday season by providing children ages 4 to 13 in the Detroit area with gift boxes. For every donation to the fund, big or small, participants will earn an entry to win free dog treats for a year through Lou’s.
Every day during the promotion, Lou’s is posting a daily contest on its Facebook and Instagram pages. The first few days consisted of tagging Lou’s in a photo of hot chocolate with a pet for the chance to win a $20 gift card; answering a trivia question for the chance to win a free beta fish and kit; and commenting on a photo of a rescue pet to have $50 donated in the winner’s name to a rescue group.
Aside from “12 Days,” Lou’s in-store shop is still up and running for the holiday season.
Manager Josias Yglesias said that throughout the pandemic, the community has been very supportive.
“A lot of people are spending time at home and spending time with their animals,” he said. “(Even) when our doors were closed, we still had a lot of customers helping us out. We’re really blessed.”
Lou’s Pet Shop offers normal holiday hours, though it will close early Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Customers are asked to wear a mask in the store.
Photo Credit Renee Landuyt
Lou’s Pet Shop is offering a “12 Days of Christmas” promotion for the holidays.
Whistle Stop Hobby and Toy
Celebrating its 50th year in business, Whistle Stop Hobby and Toy, 21714 Harper, St. Clair Shores, is decked out for Christmas and ready to bring the joy of toys to all ages.
From stocking stuffers to last-minute gifts, Whistle Stop has been prepping for a big season of buying and placed an expansive order to ensure its shelves continue to fill up leading into the holiday season.
Co-owner Julie Everitt thanked customers for supporting local businesses.
“We feel very blessed and grateful,” she said, adding that customers should, “Come on in and ask for Julie. I will always take the customer by the hand and show them what’s new and exciting for different age groups.”
Everitt said popular among 10- to 20-year-olds this year is the Pindaloo and Shashibo cube, both of which are in stock at Whistle Stop.
Along with Everitt’s guided shopping, shoppers can head to the store’s website for a downloadable wish list. Print it, fill it out and drop it off at the register. Any shopper may then go to the register and ask for a specific child’s wish list from which to buy.
The store is promoting free gift wrapping for all reasonably sized gifts bought at Whistle Stop — a deal perfect for the last-minute shopper.
As COVID-19 has made the holiday season look different this year, Whistle Stop’s traditional Santa has been replaced by Ricky, the Elf on the Shelf. Each day Ricky hides in a different spot in the store. If shoppers find Ricky, they can get a free piece of candy at checkout.
The store also has a Santa letter mailbox in place.
To make shopping safe, Whistle Stop asks its customers to wear a mask as they do their best to frequently disinfect the store. Lines are busier during lunchtime and customers are also offered the option of curbside pickup, orders for which can be done over the phone or on Whistle Stop’s website, whistle-stop.com.
Don’t forget the groceries
For shoppers who are still nailing down their holiday menus, there are plenty of local markets who are ready to assist. Don’t forget to check them out:
• Alexander & Polen Market, 19337 Mack, Grosse Pointe Woods — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Call (313) 881-2760.
• Blue Bay Fish & Seafood Market, 19531 Mack, Grosse Pointe Woods — 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Visit bluebayfishgp.com or call (313) 824-FISH (3474). Gift cards are available.
• Cornwall Bakery, 15215 Kercheval, Grosse Pointe Park — 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday and Monday. Visit cornwallbakery.com or call (313) 264-1938.
• Fairfax Market, 899 Beaconsfield, Grosse Pointe Park — 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Visit fairfax-market.business.site or call (313) 822-7074.
• Farm Field Table, 15124 Kercheval, Grosse Pointe Park — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; closed Sunday and Monday. Visit or call (248) 509-8555, Opt. 2.
• Fresh Farms Market, 355 Fisher, City of Grosse Pointe — 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Visit freshfarmsmarket.com or call (313) 882-5100.
• Hillside Hearth, 19487 Mack, Grosse Pointe Woods — 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; closed Sunday and Monday. Call (313) 880-4900.
• Kroger, 16919 Kercheval, City of Grosse Pointe — 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Visit kroger.com or call (313) 884-6035.
• Kroger, 20422 Mack, Grosse Pointe Woods — 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Visit kroger.com or call (313) 308-1035.
• Trader Joe’s, 17028 Kercheval, City of Grosse Pointe — 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Sunday. Visit traderjoes.com or call (313) 640-7794.
• Village Market, 18330 Mack, Grosse Pointe Farms — 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Email info@villagemarket.net or call (313) 882-2530. Deadline to pre-order holiday catering is Monday, Dec. 21. Visit villagemarket.net.
By: Kate Vanderstelt