18 small shops at Downtown Detroit Markets help you avoid bland gifts

Chandra Fleming, Detroit Free Press
·4 min read

Christmas can be stressful, trying to find the perfect gift. Everything is sold out or looks too bland at your local big chain store.

People walk through the Downtown Detroit Markets space past shops for businesses selling items for the holidays at Cadillac Square near Campus Martius in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.
People walk through the Downtown Detroit Markets space past shops for businesses selling items for the holidays at Cadillac Square near Campus Martius in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.

Maybe it's time to take a different route. Think smaller.

Eighteen small businesses set up shop in tiny holiday markets right in the heart of Detroit, Cadillac Square. They're little shops full of jewelry creations, candles that remind you of gingerbread, outfits with Detroit branding, and creative wood pieces that pop out. Two of those 18 shops are yummy food shops. There's something for everyone.

Here are shops to check out in your search for the next perfect gift:

Alcott's Attic Bookstore

An independent bookshop that sells a range of genres.

Gift: A blind date with a book

A blind date with a book gift is shown as a gift item for holiday shoppers at the space for Alcott's Attic Bookstore in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.
A blind date with a book gift is shown as a gift item for holiday shoppers at the space for Alcott's Attic Bookstore in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.

The book is wrapped in brown paper but has clues about what the book is about on the back.

Price: Varies

Not Sorry Goods

An apparel brand that focuses on feeling good and looking good while doing so, unapologetically, according to their website. They use deadstock materials plus sew everything in their factory.

Gift: Patchwork Crew sweatshirt

A patchwork crew neck sweatshirt is shown as a gift item for holiday shoppers at the space for Not Sorry Goods in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.
A patchwork crew neck sweatshirt is shown as a gift item for holiday shoppers at the space for Not Sorry Goods in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.

Price: $65

Opal Grove Games

A local game shop in Detroit.

Gifts: Folded Wishes, Improper Nouns

Improper Nouns and Folded wishes games are shown as gift items for holiday shoppers at the space for Opal Grove Games in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.
Improper Nouns and Folded wishes games are shown as gift items for holiday shoppers at the space for Opal Grove Games in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.

Prices:

  • Folded Wishes: $25

  • Improper Nouns (unsigned copies): $40 (signed copies): $45

3 Dogs 1 Cat

A local Detroit pet shop selling pet toys, treats, and clothing.

Gift: Reindeer suit

A reindeer snood for a dog is shown as a gift item for holiday shoppers at the space for 3Dogs1Cat in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.
A reindeer snood for a dog is shown as a gift item for holiday shoppers at the space for 3Dogs1Cat in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.

It's a knitted reindeer hat that turns your pet into a fawn. It comes in multiple different colors and ranges in sizes from small to large.

Price: $22-30

Quétarshé Textiles Design Studio

Handmade creative textile company specializing in handmade goods.

Gift: Hand felted scarves, sherpa tunic tops, hat warmers

A hand felted scarf and a handmade Sherpa tunic top are shown as a gift item for holiday shoppers at the space for Quétarshé Textiles Design Studio in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.
A hand felted scarf and a handmade Sherpa tunic top are shown as a gift item for holiday shoppers at the space for Quétarshé Textiles Design Studio in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.

Prices:

  • Hand-felted scarves: $125-300

  • Tunic tops: $90-100

  • Hat warmer- $45

Dcreated Boutique

A baby and adult clothing brand that also sells tote bags, mugs and other novelty.

Gift: Merry Mama and Merry Mini Sweatshirts

A holiday set of shirts shown as a gift item for holiday shoppers at the space for Dcreated Boutique in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.
A holiday set of shirts shown as a gift item for holiday shoppers at the space for Dcreated Boutique in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.

Prices:

  • Merry Mama:＄34

  • Merry Mini: ＄28

Halie & Co

Handmade candle and jewelry base business that sells 14k gold-filled or sterling silver hammered wires plus smell goods for all seasons.

Gift: Merry Bright Candle, Jewelry

A candle and handmade earrings are shown as gift items for holiday shoppers at the space for Halie & Co. in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.
A candle and handmade earrings are shown as gift items for holiday shoppers at the space for Halie & Co. in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.

Prices:

  • Large Merry Bright Candle: $34

  • Jewelry- $4-150

Janna Kay Charcuterie

Catering charcuterie brand that creates boards and boxes for all occasions.

Gift: 16-inch Charcuterie Boards

A 16-inch charcuterie board is shown as a gift item for holiday shoppers at the space for Janna Kay Charcuterie in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.
A 16-inch charcuterie board is shown as a gift item for holiday shoppers at the space for Janna Kay Charcuterie in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.

Price:＄125

Love Travel Imports

A company that sources artisan goods from South Africa, Guatemala, Peru, and Haiti then ships them to Detroit.

Gifts: Handmade angel tea lights from Haiti, baskets from Kenya, elephant necklaces from South Africa

Hand made leather elephant necklaces from South Africa are shown as a gift item for holiday shoppers at the space for Love Travels Imports in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.
Hand made leather elephant necklaces from South Africa are shown as a gift item for holiday shoppers at the space for Love Travels Imports in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.

Everything is handmade and comes in multiple different sizes. The baskets can be filled with gifts and given as a present.

Hand made baskets from Kenya are shown as a gift item for holiday shoppers at the space for Love Travels Imports in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.
Hand made baskets from Kenya are shown as a gift item for holiday shoppers at the space for Love Travels Imports in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.

Prices:

  • Handmade angel tea lights from Haiti- $32

  • Baskets from Kenya- $23-59

  • Elephant necklaces from South Africa - $22

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Ink Courage

A novelty shop that sells mugs, stickers, T-shirts, and other goods that have words of encouragement.

Gift: Custom gift box

Encouraging custom gift box with, a candle, jewelry item, mug and hot chocolate bomb with custom messages of encouragement are shown as a gift item for holiday shoppers at the space for Inkcourage in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.
Encouraging custom gift box with, a candle, jewelry item, mug and hot chocolate bomb with custom messages of encouragement are shown as a gift item for holiday shoppers at the space for Inkcourage in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.

Shoppers have the option to create a custom gift box that features a candle, mug, bracelet or necklace pus a hot cocoa bomb. Each product features encouraging words.

Price: $40

Cookette

A kitchen shop that emphasizes "intention" in the kitchen with cookbooks from different parts of the world and kitchen tools.

Gift: Premade gift sets

Cookbooks with olive wood cutting boards are shown as a gift item for holiday shoppers at the space for Cookette in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.
Cookbooks with olive wood cutting boards are shown as a gift item for holiday shoppers at the space for Cookette in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.

Gift sets already made for simple gift ideas, feature a cookbook, olivewood board, or serving spoons. Each gift features a different item and cookbook.

Prices: $25-65

Flamingo Vintage

A vintage shop that sells clothing and accessories

Gift: Vintage fur jacket

A vintage coat is shown as a gift item for holiday shoppers at the space for Flamingo Vintage in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.
A vintage coat is shown as a gift item for holiday shoppers at the space for Flamingo Vintage in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.

Price: $140

Whimsy & Wine

Handmade wooden DIY decor brand plus sells other decor goods.

Gifts: Christmas Tree Lighting ornament, gingerbread man wooden sign

A handmade wooden ornament for tree lighting for the Detroit Tree Lighting and a handmade wooden gingerbread sign are shown as gift items for holiday shoppers at the space for Whimsy & Wine in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.
A handmade wooden ornament for tree lighting for the Detroit Tree Lighting and a handmade wooden gingerbread sign are shown as gift items for holiday shoppers at the space for Whimsy & Wine in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.

Prices:

  • Christmas Tree Lighting ornament: $15

  • Gingerbread man wooden sign: $35

Zapenda

African-inspired apparel brand that inspires to connect the African diaspora through fashion and accessories.

Gifts: Custom apron, bandana, scrunchie gift set from Congo

An apron, bandana scrunchie and a pouch are shown as gift items for holiday shoppers at the space for Zapenda in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.
An apron, bandana scrunchie and a pouch are shown as gift items for holiday shoppers at the space for Zapenda in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.

Prices: Varies

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Young Socialites Clothier

A fashion brand that specializes in trendy kid fashion items.

Gifts: Sequin holiday jacket, sequined baseball cap, custom-made scrunchies, bubble shirt dress

A Sequin hat, jacket, scrunchie and custom brand logo bubble shirt dress are shown as gift items for holiday shoppers at the space for Young Socialites Clothier in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.
A Sequin hat, jacket, scrunchie and custom brand logo bubble shirt dress are shown as gift items for holiday shoppers at the space for Young Socialites Clothier in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.

Prices:

  • Sequin holiday jacket: $65

  • Sequined baseball cap: $22

  • Custom-made scrunchies: $10

  • Bubble shirt dress: $45

Well Done Goods

Handmade garment printing brand, that uses Detroit manholes as its source of print.

Gift: Manhole Cover Print Pullover Hoodie

Detroit water manhole cover print made with water-based printing ink is shown as a gift item for holiday shoppers at the space for Well Done Goods in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.
Detroit water manhole cover print made with water-based printing ink is shown as a gift item for holiday shoppers at the space for Well Done Goods in the Downtown Detroit Markets located at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.

Price: $49

What else to know

Detroit Downtown Partnership (DDP) created the markets as an opportunity for small businesses to grow their business in Detroit. By allowing them to set up shop in the community, hosting events for foot traffic, and providing them with endless opportunities for growth. It's through a partnership with Gilbert Family Foundation and Bedrock.

The markets allow folks from all over a chance to shop in Detroit and get engaged with the community. The markets are here until Jan.1, 2023. The other two markets are food based; Estella's Vegan Dessert Boutique and Monger's Provisions. Estella's Vegan Dessert Boutique sells vegan-based cookies, desserts and cakes. Their goal is to spread a healthy plant-based diet among the masses. Monger's Provisions sells fine cheeses, charcuteries, and chocolates plus they sell wine and beer.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Downtown Detroit Markets and Cadillac Lodge spotlight women and diversed shops