23 places to shop locally this holiday season

By Metro Times Staff

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, we’d like to humbly suggest giving these shops a chance to prove they’ve got something for everyone on your list.

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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.