Sure, Target may be selling a 1,000-inch flat-screen TV for $60 on Thanksgiving Day and maybe that would make your dad happy, but in an attempt to reel in the over-commercialization of this Yuletide season, weÂ’d like to humbly suggest giving these shops a chance to prove theyÂ’ve got something for everyone on your list.

Detroit Institute of Arts Gift Shop • • 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-833-7948; dia.org • Each and every year some gift guide in some publication (eh-hem) will tell you they have the perfect thing for that person who has everything. Well, does that impossible-to-buy-for person on your list have a chandelier composed of vintage spoons? My feeling is no. The Detroit Institute of Arts gift shop has those in varying sizes (and, yes, I want one) as well as many other interesting oddities. They sell jewelry (also made from spoons!), plus books on everything from art to tea, handmade ornaments, ceramic tiles, quirky bookmarks, and plenty more. You can hit the museum or shop for a slew of gifts in their online store. IG user cmt_lv120.
Eldorado General Store • • 1700 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-784-9220; eldoradogeneralstore.com • Erin Gavle has received her fair share of press, but take a step inside Corktown’s Eldorado General Store and you’ll see what has bloggers and major news outlets alike entranced. She sells a host of goods, from vintage to brand new, and stocks goods that would delight both guys and gals. Her collection of jewelry is to die for, as are her stock of tarot cards, candles, and vintage sweaters. Gavle travels the states collecting items to sell in the store and the care and thought put into her collection is apparent. Photo courtesy of Eldorado General Store.
Elphie Elora: Purveyor of Fine Goods • • Elphieelora.com • This little shop opened last year just off South Washington in Royal Oak, but sadly the brick-and-mortar incarnation of the business didn’t last long. Thankfully, however, Elphie Elora has survived as an online business, so you can still support the proprietress Kristen Hawley in her endeavor to bring quirky and kitschy gifts to the masses. Think: bacon bandages, funny socks, voodoo dolls, hand-shaped hand soap and other various gag gifts that make for perfect stocking stuffers. Photo via IG user elphieelora.
Glowfish Studios • • 2840 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte; 734-552-6323; glowfishstudios.com • Inside, shoppers will find a slew of gift-worthy items like books, candles, T-shirts, and knick-knacks. They have Detroit-centric items, like a book by Andy and Emily Linn, the brother and sister team that owns City Bird and Nest. They carry Michigan-themed stickers that are perfect for your car’s back window to let the world know you’re proudly from a mitten-shaped state, plus clothing, decor, journals, jewelry (we’re currently in love with a pair of arrowhead earrings), bath and body products, and plenty more items that are just cool. Photo via IG user glowfishstudios.
HandCrafted • • 18511 Fort St., Riverview; 734-288-0563; craftedmi.com • Downriver, for all its merits, is often late to the trend game. It’s taken the region a while, but they finally got a shop that focuses solely on Michigan-made items. You can pick up JKM candles, Cellar Door soaps, Detroit Cargo bags, plant terrariums, and plenty more, plus they’ve got stuff for guys, gals, and kiddos too. In addition to being a great place to shop, they also hold craft classes, if you’re more of a doer than a buyer. IG user mihandcrafted.
Hihi • • 220 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak; 248-658-8900; hellohihi.com • Maybe you have a 15-year-old niece who is obsessed with anime and Japanese pop culture. Or maybe that person is your 30-year-old boyfriend. Either way, Hihi is a little shop that’s full of Pusheen stuffed dolls, Tokidoki unicorn figurines, Big Pants Cats toys, Sanrio notebooks, and various other colorful items that will serve as joyful stocking stuffers. Photo via IG user epicthenarwhale.
Leon & Lulu • • 96 W. 14 Mile Rd, Clawson; 248-288-3600; leonandlulu.com • Named after the owners’ pets, a white cat named Leon and a rottweiler named Lulu, the store has all kinds of familial appeal. Oh, and don’t be surprised if you find that a couple of furry friends greet you at the door. Two welcoming canines, Spot and Bertie, “work” at the store, making this place all the more charming and cozy. Once past the pups, inside you’ll find plenty of home decor in the form of funny pillows, sassy coffee mugs, cool knick-knacks, nifty books, and even a few kitschy kitchen utensils. There’s also a kids section where you’ll find fun stuffed animals, games, and other amazing toys. MT file photo.
Hugh • • 4240 Cass Ave. Ste. 107, Detroit; 313-831-4844; lovehughlongtime.com • If you’re wondering where to shop to pimp your bachelor pad or help a friend out, we’ve got news for you — it isn’t Ikea. Check out Cass Corridor’s Hugh, a store that stocks everything a man needs to impress both his friends and the ladies. From great bar equipment to a fancy French press to shaving gear to chic furniture to fashionable accessories and plenty more, Hugh lives up to its name. Photo via IG user curateddetroit.
Pewabic Pottery • 10125 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit; 313-626-2000; pewabicstore.org • OK, your pockets will have to be a little deeper to pick up presents at this Detroit institution, but chances are gifts from this store will last a lifetime. A small Celtic vase will run $135, a set of three blue ceramic snowflake ornaments will cost a cool $70, and a classic mug is around $60. The items are beautiful, handmade, and one-of-a-kind, which makes forking over a little extra dough worth it for that special someone. Courtesy photo.
Catching Fireflies • • 3117 12 Mile Rd., Berkley; 248-336-2030; catchingfireflies.com • With three locations in metro Detroit, Catching Fireflies sure has caught on since it first opened nearly 15 years ago. Married couple April and Steve McCrumb built their gift-selling empire from the ground up, starting with paper goods they sold art fairs. Now, their stores stock creative gifts for anniversaries, birthdays, baptisms, housewarmings, and more. Photo via IG user ourwholevillage.
Detroit Mercantile Co. • • 3434 Russell St., Detroit; 313-831-9000; detroitmercantile.com • The shop carries any number of curiosities including taxidermied animals, sharp leather boots, books on the history of Detroit, McClary Bros. Drinking Vinegars, Sharklion glasses, and plenty more. Photo via IG user lschoene12.
DSE • • 202 E. Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-389-6178; dsedetroit.com • James Morris’ collection of screen-printed T-shirts hangs neatly from a rack that’s visible from the shop’s Grand River Avenue location. Inside, you’ll find more of Morris’ original T-shirts emblazoned with sayings like “Show them another side of Detroit,” “Support Detroit,” “Respect the Bike,” and “Art Lives.” A similar collection of canvas tote bags is sold here too. Reasonably priced at $15, bags sport interesting designs or taglines like, “In a Betty Davis mood.” Photo by Rebecca Gallagher.
Frida • • 15 E. Kirby St., Detroit; 313-559-5500; fridadetroit.com • Sister to Rachel Lutz’s Peacock Room, Frida is a little more laid-back, and just as much fun. You’ll find Mexican-inspired wares from jewelry to handbags, from dresses to notepads. It’s a the perfect place to pick up something for your girlfriend or your best friend — chances are she’ll love everything in this store. Photo by Sarah Rahal.
Henry the Hatter • • 1307 Broadway St., Detroit; 313-962-0970 • Henry the Hatter is something of an institution in Detroit. The shop’s been around since 1893 selling fancy toppers and casual caps. Everything on its shelves is made with quality and you’ll get impeccable service too. Not in the market for a felt topper? They also sell Russian-style rabbit fur hats that will keep a noggin warm on the coldest of Midwestern days. IG user ljones15.
Nora • • 4240 Cass Ave., Detroit; 313-831-4845; noramodern.com • Sometimes, all of the good intentions in the world can’t inspire us to think of a great present for Mom, and we end up buying flowers or, worse, an Amazon gift card. Therefore, why not take the pressure off yourself and still end up the golden child. Without a wander into Nora, you’d never dream of buying some of the oddly shaped bottle openers, soaps or oven mitts. You don’t even have to think hard; just walk in and pick something up, something that looks both useful and utterly useless. Photo via IG user sequesteredspots.
Peacock Room • • 15 E. Kirby St., Detroit; 313-559-5500; shopparkshelton.com/The_Peacock_Room.html • Rachel Lutz’s boutique offers new and vintage clothing and accessories, as well as antique furniture and eclectic artifacts. The Peacock Room occupies a gorgeous space in the historic Park Shelton. As we detailed in a 2014 profile of Lutz, she’s been around Midtown since a very young age. “People work here, people live here, people play here. Too many people underestimate Detroit,” she told us. Amen. Photo via IG user peacockroomdetroit.
Rust Belt Market • • 22801 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 810-441-0956; www.rustbeltmarket.com • Featuring 50 independent shops in a 4,000-square-foot event space, the Rust Belt Market in Ferndale has become something of a Metro Detroit institution, or at least a go-to spot when looking to find new artists and gifts for loved ones and yourself. While shopping is great, we’re so excited for the market to get a bar in this spring! Now that’s how to have a shopping experience.Photo via IG user rustbeltmarket.
Tulani Rose • • 4201 Cass Ave., Detroit; 313-832-2477; facebook.com/tulanirose • Sharon Del Pryor has been curating this little Midtown shop for over a decade and it’s just as fun as it’s ever been. You’ll find the typical assortment of candles, soaps, and creams plus far-out jewelry, paper goods, and other fun items. Photo by Tony Lowe.
Well Done Goods • • 1440 Gratiot 1D, Detroit; 313-404-2053; welldonegoods.com • Bethany Shorb’s brand new storefront in Eastern Market sells goods from her house brand as well as her Cyberoptix Ties, but it’s also a bastion of goofy gifts like necklaces that say “Acid,” brass name plates that say, “What Would Beyonce Do,” and laser cut cat eye sunglasses you’ll swoon over. She also sells Detroit-themed pencil sets, glass terrariums, cowhides (very reasonably priced too), pillows, and other fun goods. Photo courtesy of Well Done Goods.
Wheelhouse Hamtramck • • 9401 Joseph Campau Ave., Hamtramck; wheelhousedetroit.com • Wheelhouse Detroit owner Kelli Kavanaugh recently opened a second location of her successful shop, this time in Hamtramck. Whether you’re looking for a set of wheels to gift your true love this holiday season or you’re just hoping to put some bicycle accessories under the tree this year, Wheelhouse is the perfect place to pick up those items. This location will also exclusively sell a line of cycling-inspired clothing that’s designed especially for folks who ride their bikes to work. Photo via IG user wheelhousedetroit.
Xochi’s Gift Shop • • 3437 Bagley St., Detroit; 313-841-6410; xochis.net • Traditional Mexican folk art, colorful crosses, ofrendas, Katrina dolls, beautifully painted skulls, wooden flutes, tiny sombreros, taco-shaped Christmas ornaments, handmade Nativity scenes, and so much more await all those who stop into this Mexicantown gift shop. Photo via IG user a2serendipity.
Yellow Door Art Market • • 3141 W. 12 Mile Rd., Berkley; 248-336-2038; yellowdoorartmarket.com • Yellow Door is open throughout the week when vendors aren’t necessarily there to tend their booths. Collect your favorite items (magic hand salve from Terra[Cotta] Paste, anyone?) and pay for everything at once at the counter. It’s a fun place to shop around without feeling the pressure of looking every last vendor in the face when deciding whether to purchase their wares. Consider it a no-pressure environment, just one reason we love this place. MT Stock Photo.
City Bird • • 460 W. Canfield St., Detroit; 313-831-9146; ilovecitybird.com • This Midtown shop is an inarguable success, having been started by brother-and-sister duo Andy and Emily Linn seven years ago. It has true to its roots, offering locally made goods and even a house-line that’s created and curated by the siblings, and the shop owners have have been conscious of changing styles and needs. Photo via IG user citybird.

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