The cities of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti transform into a winter wonderland brimming with festive cheer during the holiday season. As the holiday season wraps its arms around these two Michigan cities, the streets bustle with the excitement of gift-giving. The spirit of the season dances through quaint boutiques, bustling markets, and local treasures, offering an unforgettable shopping experience that celebrates both the unique and the traditional.
Whether you seek artisanal crafts, cozy winter essentials, or delightful surprises for your loved ones, let this guide illuminate the must-visit destinations for your holiday shopping spree in this enchanting corner of the Midwest. Amidst the twinkling lights and painted windows, discover not just gifts but an experience—a joyful blend of shopping and winter activities that encapsulate the essence of this vibrant community.
Disclosure – This post contains affiliate links. I gathered this information while visiting Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti and working with Destination Ann Arbor.
Best Holiday Shopping in Ann Arbor
Catching Fireflies
Catching Fireflies is a delightful boutique located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, known for its charming and eclectic collection of gifts, home decor, and accessories. This gift shop offers a wide variety of whimsical and one-of-a-kind products that make great gifts or personal treats year round. A few of the items they offer include stationery, home decor, accessories, and handmade jewelry. They also have some very unique ornaments for sale to help celebrate the holiday season.
The name “Catching Fireflies” was partially inspired by the leadership team’s favorite artist. It was also inspired by the nostalgic feeling you get when you think back to being a carefree child. The leadership team’s goal is to bring each customer bright smiles that will warm their heart and their home.
Explore Kerrytown Market & Shops
Kerrytown Market & Shops in Ann Arbor was part of the original village of Ann Arbor and was named after County Kerry, Ireland. In the late 1960’s, this historical building was converted into markets and shops. The building has been meticulously maintained to preserve the timeless appeal of the brick and exposed beams. The Kerrytown Market has an original chime that is open to the public to play on certain days each week.
One of the shops that I enjoyed in the Kerrytown Market was 16 hands. This store specializes in original artisan-made objects for your home, office, and garden spaces. They also have a large amount of jewelry, fashion accessories, and handmade cards for sale. When I visited the shop I saw the most beautiful hand-painted glass ornaments (that were even on sale) that would make great gifts this holiday season. Choose a holiday card from their collection, as well as a glass ornament, and you have the perfect gift for coworkers or family members alike!
Another store that I enjoyed spending my time in at Kerrytown was Found: an unexpected collection. Found is a creatively curated shop that features local artists and a wide array of other items such as jewelry, gifts, and home decor. They focus their items on simple lines, natural elements, texture, and pops of color. There was a great mix of holiday items and year-round items in the store for you to enjoy. Found is currently celebrating 18 years of business at Kerrytown and pride themselves on making shopping an interesting and fun experience.
Rock Paper Scissors
Rock Paper Scissors is a small, woman-owned and operated gift shop located Downtown Ann Arbor. They have been open since 2012 offering fun, luxurious, ready-to-ship gifts. The atmosphere within Rock Paper Scissors is lively and inviting, as they often host events such as their “Swiftie Saturday” event that they were hosting while I had the chance to visit. A few of my favorite items in-store include their Holiday T-shirts and Mugs that have Holiday movie quotes on them. They also sell some very cool Ann Arbor and “Midwest” apparel that I have not seen anywhere else. The most unique section of the shop is their holiday ornaments, which are definitely unlike any ornaments that I have seen before. Rock Paper Scissors also has their hand in the wedding business, as they work with brides to create wedding stationary and they even have some of their work in-store for brides to see first hand.
Shinola
Shinola, a renowned brand originating from Detroit, has a store downtown Ann Arbor. Shinola is known for it’s high quality watches, leather goods, and other leather accessories. Each item is meticulously crafted with an emphasis on quality and durability. The most popular offering is their beautifully crafted watches. Their leather goods, including bags and wallets, are crafted with premium materials and close attention to detail. The Ann Arbor Shinola location has a very welcoming environment that includes a cafe in the basement. If I lived close to Ann Arbor, I could see myself visiting this cafe to work in a quiet and welcoming environment.
Nickels Arcade
Nickels Arcade is a covered shopping district downtown Ann Arbor that was built in 1918. It consists of a 261-foot-long mosaic-tiled corridor and has been listed on the National Registry of Historic Places since 1987. The arcade has maintained its original mission to bring an upscale shopping experience to the city through a diverse array of businesses. From clothing and jewelry stores, to barbershops and cafes, Nickels Arcade has it all.
Elmo’s T-shirts and Gifts is a store located within Nickels Arcade. This shop is a t-shirt and apparel printing shop that remains fully immersed within the community by supporting local organizations and businesses. The storefront in Nickel’s Arcade is just one of three locations in Ann Arbor. Elmo’s opened their first printing shop in 1977 in a one-car garage on the west side of town. I loved shopping at Elmo’s and even purchased a few gifts for myself and for family while I was there.
Winter Activities and Can’t Miss Restaurants in Ann Arbor
Breakfast at the Songbird Cafe
The Songbird Cafe is a creative American eatery that serves espresso drinks, soups, sandwiches, and baked goods. Brunch is also served on the weekends until 3pm at the North Side Location. The cafe is located in a strip mall type setting, but you can’t tell when you step inside. I really enjoyed the ambiance in the cafe and it was very clean. I ordered a Lavender Latte, and it was fabulous! I also tried the breakfast sandwich and avocado toast, and both were delicious as well. I would highly recommend checking out The Songbird Cafe for breakfast or brunch if you are in the Ann Arbor area. This would also be a great place to come to get some work done and enjoy some great coffee and ambiance.
Ice Skating at Yost Ice Arena
Yost Ice Arena is an indoor ice hockey arena located on the campus of Michigan. This rink is home to Michigan’s ice hockey team and is also available to rent to hockey organizations or even to host a private skating event. Yost Arena holds public skating which gives the public a chance to skate at one of the most recognized and iconic rinks in college hockey. I attended the public skate while I was in Ann Arbor, and it was loads of fun! The price is very reasonable and includes ice skates for you to use. The public skate was very organized, and although it was pretty busy, I had a great experience all the way around. This is a great winter activity to take part in if you are visiting Ann Arbor during the winter season!
Lunch at First Bite
First Bite in Ann Arbor is a health-conscious American cafe with breakfast and lunch options. Their food is made from scratch and they have many vegan and gluten-free options. First Bite’s philosophy is “Positive Food, Positive Life”. They believe that food must positively impact all major stakeholders. They support local farming and sourcing from like minded vendors, even if it means paying higher prices. The restaurant claims that “they exist for the sole purpose of enhancing and maintaining the well being of its customers, vendors, team members, and to preserve the environment we live in.”
When visiting First Bite, I decided to try their bacon grilled cheese, sweet potatoes, and one of their healthy bowls. You could taste the freshness of the food, and everything was delicious. I could definitely see myself coming back to this restaurant if I am in the Ann Arbor area and looking for a “healthy” meal!
Check out the Painted Windows
If you are visiting the downtown Ann Arbor area during the winter you will probably see some amazing painted murals on many of the storefront’s windows. This art is not done by each individual business, however. The painting is done by the “Brush Monkeys“. The Brush Monkey legacy of holiday window painting is a 15+ year tradition in downtown Ann Arbor. In the first years, a local artist partnered with the Main Street Area Association to recruit local business for custom window art. Each year, the Brush Monkeys attract more storefronts that want in on the window painting fun.
Due to the growing demand of businesses, the Brush Monkeys now have grown into a rotating cast of 10+ local and regional artists. Although the winter months are when the Brush Monkeys are the busiest, they enjoy creating window art for events year-round. Don’t miss this impressive art work while you are shopping in Ann Arbor this holiday season!
Stay at the Bell Tower Hotel
The Bell Tower Hotel is located on the University of Michigan’s central campus, in the heart of downtown Ann Arbor. The Bell Tower has a 24-hour fitness facility, complimentary continental breakfast daily, and unlimited valet service for $25/day. The Bell Tower is one of two Ann Arbor hotels owned and operated by Dahlmann Properties, which is a family-owned local business. This hotel is within walking distance to shopping, dining, and entertainment options downtown Ann Arbor.
Although the hotel has been running for 75 years, they recently completed a renovation and updated the rooms. I was lucky enough to have a Queen Corner Suite, and the views of campus were awesome! The bathroom was updated and the room was very clean. The service that I received was also exceptional, from check-in to using the valet service. I was very happy with my stay and consider the Bell Tower Hotel one of the best options for accommodations downtown Ann Arbor!
Top Holiday Shopping Destinations in Ypsilanti
The Rocket Gifts
The Rocket is located in downtown Ypsilanti and offers a large selection of wrapped and unwrapped bulk candy. They are known for their novelty and nostalgic candies, however, they also have numerous novelty toys, kites, and books. They specialize in humor and the store is packed full of these types of items. This would be a great store to go to if you are looking for a white elephant gift, or a funny gift for your family member that just seems to have it all!
Stone & Spoon
Stone & Spoon is a cozy retail shop in Ypsilanti that sells home, kitchen, and garden goods. You can also find The Gallery, downtown Ypsi’s newest creative epicenter, which is located right above the Stone & Spoon shop. The current show in the gallery is called “Minumental: A celebration of Tiny Art.” The store is also holding a Vegan Holiday Market on December 23rd from 11am-3pm. The market will consist of vegan businesses, such as Craveable Food Trailer and Zella’s Bakery, serving up vegan holiday favorites. I highly recommend stopping by Stone & Spoon to finish your holiday shopping and to support their small business.
Unicorn Feed & Supply
Unicorn Feed & Supply will make you smile as soon as you walk into the shop. It is a corner of joy, creativity, and optimism that the owner, Jen, created in 2018. The store carries gifts, cards, games, and decorations that help you celebrate, collaborate, play, create, and manifest your inner sparkle. The first thing you see when you walk in is a giant unicorn, and it made me smile as soon as I saw it! There is also lots of sparkles all over the store and decorations that make you feel like you are a kid again. Unicorn Feed & Supply is not a typical “feed” store, it is a gift and activity shop that feeds your “unicorn,” which is a happy, magical place that lives within each of us.
Things to See and Do in Ypsilanti this Holiday Season
Warm up with Coffee at Cafe Liv
Cafe Liv is a neighborhood coffee shop focused on delivering great drinks in a charming cafe setting. They are located in a former Ypsilanti auto repair shop, and they kept some auto decorations to keep the authenticity of the space. Cafe Liv still has the garage doors that open, tires, and old car parts that they now use as decorations in their seating area. This neighborhood coffee shop serves a basic espresso menu and specialty latte drinks. They also serve pastries from local companies like Bird Dog Bakery and Milk + Honey. I really enjoyed both the coffee at Cafe Liv and the atmosphere that they created. It was a great spot to stop on a rainy Sunday morning!
Explore the Ypsilanti Artisan Holiday Market
The Ypsilanti Artisan Holiday Market was held at the historic Ypsilanti Freighthouse. This artisan market offers over 40 local crafters, artisans, and food vendors. This is a great place to find handmade gifts just in time for the holiday season! A few of the vendors that were there included candles, specialty teas, handmade jewelry, handmade accessories, and so much more! They even had a coffee and boba tea vendor on site. This was a great market to visit and support Ypsilanti area crafters and makers of all kinds.
Eat Lunch at Bobcat Bonnie’s
Bobcat Bonnie’s is a Detroit-based gastropub that serves creative food dishes, fun cocktails, and strives for amazing service. The owner of Bobcat Bonnie’s, Matt, believes in having a very personable, inclusive, and supportive culture in each of his 7 restaurants. He embraces the diverse communities in which he does business. A few of the creative menu items that Bobcat Bonnie’s serves include a cereal flight, which includes drinks that are inspired by different types of cereal. I tried the chicken and waffle sandwich, which was unique and had a great pairing of flavors. I am excited to try out the Bobcat Bonnie’s that recently opened in Grand Rapids.
Check out the Decorated Storefront Windows
Much like downtown Ann Arbor, you will see many decorated storefront windows when walking around Ypsilanti. However, these windows are mainly created by someone from each of the stores. Although I did see a few painted windows created by the Brush Monkeys, the overall majority of decorated windows were involved in the Ypsilanti Holiday Storefront Competition. Ypsilanti locals can vote on their favorite holiday storefront and win prizes while supporting area businesses. Although the contest ends soon, I would highly recommend taking a stroll through downtown Ypsilanti to look at the creative designs that represents the uniqueness of each store.
Conclusion
Holiday shopping in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti offer a delightful blend of experiences, each town contributing its unique charm to the festive season. In Ann Arbor, places like Catching Fireflies and Rock Paper Scissors provide a whimsical touch, offering eclectic gifts, artisanal finds, and a vibrant community spirit. Meanwhile, Shinola Detroit brings a fusion of craftsmanship and modern style, embodying Detroit’s heritage in a neighboring town.
In Ypsilanti, spots like the Artisan Holiday Market add a local flair, showcasing the talents of artisans and creating a cozy, nostalgic atmosphere perfect for discovering unique treasures. Both towns boast a sense of community engagement, often hosting events and supporting local artists, adding depth to the shopping experience.
Ultimately, whether you’re seeking handcrafted items, locally sourced goods, or distinctive presents, the holiday shopping experience in both Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti offer a blend of creativity, community, and unique finds that make the season more festive and enjoyable.
Other relevant posts: Discovering Fargo, Fall Bliss in Ann Arbor Michigan
Leave a Reply