Local pop-up offers food, drinks, and art

It’s Small Business Saturday, where business owners around the country work to get people to think local as they shop for the holidays.

The brand is all about simplicity, elegance, and longevity.

Every year the day after Black Friday, many small businesses are celebrated by their communities.

Detroit’s historic Avenue of Fashion is located on Livernois Avenue between 6 and 8 Mile Road. Before malls, it was a place people would go for luxury shopping and local organizations want to bring that back.

It all comes at you so quickly: One minute, you’re making grocery lists and setting the menu for Thanksgiving, and then, in the blink of an eye, the holiday has arrived, only to be followed by Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday -- and then your tree goes up and Christmas morning is here.

Local businesses are great for holiday shopping.

The Main Street candy store is donating 10 percent of its sales made during Small Business Saturday to the Humane Society of Huron Valley

Between Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday, you’re bound to run into a few scams while you shop online.

While the Friday after Thanksgiving is, for most, dedicated to shopping, the following Saturday is devoted to shopping local.

Holidays mean gifts and gatherings, and as your celebrations come together you can support local shops on Small Business Saturday.

Shopping at local businesses for the holidays isn’t just for Small Business Saturday, the day after Black Friday.

Through the Yard, YORK has found a way to not only support itself but to lift up other businesses in Southeast Michigan. But community members can find more than food trucks at York Yard. Their presence helps YORK, the smaller businesses get to sell their food, and community members desperate to break out of their stuck-inside routines can socialize safely outdoors. Community members can anticipate visits from Detroit-based vegan bakery Fig Detroit, Ann Arbor’s Side Biscuit and a special St. Patrick’s Day event. (Sarah Okin / YORK)Inside YORK, community members can find a full-service wine and beer shop, a quick-serve counter for sandwich and coffee needs, a full bar, and Ricewood BBQ.

Campus Barber & Beauty Salon has been serving Ann Arbor students and professionals for almost 30 years. To make up for the lack of business, Campus Barber & Beauty Salon has had to adapt. Find the Campus Barber & Beauty Salon GoFundMe here. Campus Barber & Beauty Salon is at 524 E. William St. in downtown Ann Arbor (Campus Barber & Beauty Salon)Hickey’s family has owned the business in downtown Ann Arbor for almost 30 years. His father started Campus Barber & Beauty Salon as a barbershop in Nickels Arcade.

The day after Black Friday is commonly known as Small Business Saturday, when consumers are encouraged to patronize and support small, local businesses. The Michigan Economic Development Corp. said if Michiganders switched one in every ten purchases from big-box stores to local businesses, it would pump more than a billion dollars into the economy and create more than 10,000 jobs. With the coronavirus pandemic hitting locally-owned businesses extra hard, it’s safe to say that it’s important to support small businesses on more than one day this year to help them stay afloat. Michigan shoppers, we want to know: Are you more likely to shop at small, locally-owned businesses or big-box stores? Take the quick poll and give us your reasoning in the form below.

LIVONIA, Mich. – This Small Business Saturday, consumers are encouraged to patronize small businesses to support their local communities. Even those shopping for holiday gifts for their pets can find those special items at small, local businesses, like Premier Pet Supply in Livonia. Shopping locally can have significant benefits on individual communities and their economies. Watch the full report in the video player above. Related: Michigan leaders encourage residents to support local shops

DETROIT – Small Business Saturday is here and the stakes are higher than ever for local businesses in the pandemic. He’s gearing up for small business Saturday, but he knows this year things will be different. “Sales online are higher than normal.”“More than 40% of Black Small Businesses shutdown this year due to COVID-19,” said Marketing Manager Racheal Hawk with Facebook. “Knowing that, we felt compelled to help.”That’s why they started the Buy Black Friday Campaign, which urges people to ‘Buy Black’ and ‘Buy Small’ every Friday in November, but they’re extending that initiative to Small Business Saturday. It’s been a tough year for local businesses, so let’s rally together to #SupportLocal this holiday season.

DETROIT – As small businesses in Metro Detroit struggle through the coronavirus pandemic, owners want people in the area to think small this year while shopping for the holidays. After a lengthy shutdown and continuing as the pandemic stretches on, small businesses around the world are struggling to keep their doors open. Saturday is “Small Business Saturday,” and it’s on everyone to do their part to help. Kathy Hamlin Gay has owned Strictly Sportswear on Seven Mile Road in Detroit for 35 years. Like so many small businesses, the pandemic has taken a huge toll on profits, but by shopping at local businesses Saturday, residents can help make sure those shops continue to thrive.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Paragon Design + Display has been adapting to industry changes for almost 40 years, but the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic was something the Ann Arbor business could never have anticipated. Paragon Design + Display has also been doing more mural work over the past six months. Paragon Design + Display is able to create customized wrapping paper for its clients. A magnetic display at Zingerman's Bakehouse created by Paragon Design + Display. Paragon Design + Display is at 4557 Washtenaw Ave.

The front room of Burnt Toast Inn in Ann Arbor, Michigan is full of art and items Okuyama has picked up over the years. (Sarah M. Parlette / WDIV)Burnt Toast Inn started sixteen years ago in 2004 and it’s more than just Okuyama’s business, it’s her home. Burnt Toast Inn innkeeper Sarah Okuyama keeps a desk available for visiting researchers and scholars in the Master Suite. (Sarah M. Parlette / WDIV)For those thinking about having a staycation in Ann Arbor, Burnt Toast Inn has five rooms to choose from. Learn more about each of the B&B’s rooms and rates at www.burnttoastinn.comBurnt Toast Inn is at 415 W. William St.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – When entering Mota Thai Yoga on Huron Street, community members will see “yoga pods,” red lights and neon fluorescent tape. Mota Thai Yoga studio in Ann Arbor, Michigan offers a combination of in-person and online yoga classes. Mota Thai Yoga also offers live music during its classes, which Mota said has gotten the studio a lot of attention. "Yoga is still here.”Currently, all online Mota Thai Yoga classes are considered “donation classes,” so attendees pay an amount of their choosing between $0-20 dollars. Mota Thai Yoga is at 416 W. Huron Street in Suite 22.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – With flu season starting, Ann Arbor Pharmacy pharmacist and owner Ziad Ghamraoui is worried about a double whammy this flu season. A curbside pickup table at Ann Arbor Pharmacy. To further reduce possible exposure or contamination, Ann Arbor Pharmacy also froze its medical waste take-back program. Ann Arbor Pharmacy has implemented strict safety precautions while remaining open during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. (Ann Arbor Pharmacy)As Ann Arbor Pharmacy approaches its two-year anniversary, Ghamraoui said that he is very thankful for the community’s support.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Ann Arbor’s independent Bookbound Bookstore is taking things “one book sale at a time” as it marks its seventh anniversary, according to owner Megan Blackshear. Although only Megan and Peter are allowed in the store, Bookbound Bookstore customers can still browse its selection of books from outside the store. “So our goal is to make it through this, one book sale at a time.”Bookbound owners Megan and Peter Blackshear. (Bookbound Bookstore)While some Bookbound customers lament browsing inside the independent bookstore, Peter said they understand why it’s currently off-limits and why the Blackshears have their protocols in place. To get their book-based needs met, Bookbound customers can utilize curbside services at the store from noon to 6 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Its a unique time to be working in massage therapy and Thrive Massage & Bodywork owner Heidi Johnson has put safety first at her business. As the only staff member to return to work, Johnson created an intense safety strategy while adapting her business. Between two to five days after a session, Johnson follows up with her clients to make sure they havent presented any COVID-19 symptoms. When working with clients, Johnson wears a mask and face shield. Thrive Massage & Bodywork is at 2500 Packard Street.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Located in the heart of downtown Ann Arbor, Literati Bookstore has had to pivot into the world of digital bookselling and event hosting during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through its At Home with Literati virtual events, the Ann Arbor bookstore connects its community of book lovers to their favorite authors as publishers forgo in-person book tours. Ganiard added that people in Ann Arbor get to have something similar to their downtown experience but that the events are also introducing author fans to Ann Arbor and to the bookstore. Literatis online presence has also helped the Ann Arbor community show its love of the bookstore. Literati Bookstore is at 124 E. Washington St.Related:Small Biz Saturday: Nicolas Books fulfills increased demand during COVID-19 pandemicSmall Biz Saturday: Tammys Tastings takes cocktail classes online

While the tasting company also offers food-based classes, it is most known for its public cocktail classes which were offered at The Last Word. After some experimenting on friends, she figured out a recipe that translated her in-person classes online. (Tammy Coxen / Tammy's Tastings)Each Tammys Tastings cocktail class is around one hour -- depending on how chatty participants are. So far, there have been 20 different Tammys Tastings online classes. Currently, Tammys Tastings isnt offering food-based classes but it does offer private online drink classes and very small in-person events.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Caravan Gift Shop was 100% reliant on walk-in traffic but it had to close to in-person shopping for 14 weeks. The gift shop sells thousands of handmade items including dryer balls, wallets, glassware, wooden bowls and gift sets. (Sarah M. Parlette / WDIV)To continue offering eclectic handmade gifts to shoppers, Caravan GIft Shop built a website that has many of its items. Ahles said that customers are particular attracted to the uniqueness of the globes sold at Caravan Gift Shop. Caravan Gift Shop is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturday but video appointments can be arranged outside of those times as well.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Its been drastic. Sales are way down, said Ed Davidson, owner of Bivouac said regarding how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted his retail business in downtown Ann Arbor. (Bivouac)Unlike many other businesses in Ann Arbor, Bivouac, which sells backpacking gear as well as clothing and accessories, hasnt experienced problems with distributors or suppliers. So, the issue now is just planning, planning, planning, said Davidson. The downtown Ann Arbor store has taken numerous precautions to keep employees and customers safe.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Small business owners already feel a lot of responsibility but Molly Ging, owner of The Little Seedling in Ann Arbor, said that the COVID-19 pandemic has been an immense burden. She closed the doors to The Little Seedling on Stadium Boulevard early on in the COVID-19 pandemic -- a cue she took from Ann Arbor bookstore, Literati. She brought in a large supply of kids masks and began posting videos on The Little Seedling Facebook page to show parents how the masks fit. Luckily, The Little Seedling has been able to bring back many employees to help with curbside services. Updated hours can be found on a calendar on The Little Seedling website.

Started in 2003, Simply Scrumptious Catering has served Ann Arbor and the surrounding area for 17 years. The chefs at Simply Scrumptious Catering offer new meals like seafood paella. Luckily, clientele for the Simple Scrumptious Catering dinner service grew through word-of-mouth. (Simply Scrumptious Catering)Simply Scrumptious Catering has also returned to doing some catering. Visit the Simply Scrumptious Catering website for more information.

The farm stop had to buy more refrigeration to accommodate the new inventory and to hold online orders. Sample also said the success of the Argus Farm Stop online orders was due to its customers. (Argus Farm Stop)Additionally, Argus Farm Stop implemented grocery delivery for its customers. Currently, both Argus Farm Stop locations are open to customers but are limited to only five at one time. Visit Argus Farm Stop at 325 W. Liberty St. and at 1200 Packard Rd.

Then, The Wood Garage quickly started selling items across the United States and internationally, but at an exhausting pace. While that may not seem like a lot, Stom said, The Wood Garage crafts items from start to finish. Since it is predominately online, The Wood Garage has actually experienced the opposite. Aside from its growth over the past few months, Stom said The Wood Garage was lucky. Currently, pieces and custom items from The Wood Garage are either made in Stoms garage in Ann Arbor or out of her brothers shop in Belleville.

ANN ARBOR Approaching its 25th birthday, Nicolas Books is known as a townie go-to spot for books and book-related events on the west side of Ann Arbor. First named Little Professor, the independent bookstore in the Westgate Shopping Complex was rebranded to Nicolas Books after it was purchased by Nicola Rooney in 1995. In March, Nicolas Books had to shut its doors to the public. Nicolas Books also began selling puzzles, gift boxes and hosting virtual events, like webinars with authors, workshops, storytimes and book previews. She said that Nicolas Books will celebrate its 25th birthday in some fashion but doesnt yet know what that will look like.

ANN ARBOR Having shut the doors to both Vie Fitness & Spa locations on March 16, owner Heather Dupuis is taking her time to reopen the Ann Arbor personal training and spa business. Dupuis opened her first Vie Fitness & Spa in downtown Ann Arbor in 2004. Vie Fitness & Spa has been offering virtual classes to clients while its studios have been closed. For Dupuis, it isnt just about reopening Vie Fitness & Spa, its about making sure that she does it carefully and responsibly. Vie Fitness & Spa has two locations.

But the closure didnt stop Behan and Ziola from using Juicy Kitchen to make wholesale meals for community partners, paying their staff and making meals for frontline workers. Started in 2011, Juicy Kitchen originated as a healthy meal delivery business by Susan and George Todoroff. Juicy Kitchen would drop off premade food at community partners, White Lotus Farms and Argus Farm Stop, who would then sell the food to hungry customers. Ziola credited the two markets as being a reason why Juicy Kitchen survived while closed to the public. Juicy Kitchen is at 1506 N Maple Rd.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Operating since 1992, Tribble Painting Company has become synonymous with exterior and interior painting in the Ann Arbor area. It was also when Tribble Painting Company started to schedule work for the season. (Tribble Painting Company, Inc.)According to Tribble, responses from clients have been mixed because of the pandemic. Luckily for Tribble Painting Company, there is now a pent up demand for painting. (Tribble Painting Company, Inc.)The company has had to re-think how employees interact and move, which might slow down some painting jobs.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Located in the Plymouth-Green Crossings Shopping Center, Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea Plymouth Green usually has a hoard of commuters passing through its doors fueling up for the day. The Sweetwaters location is popular among commuters and students as a place to study or work. (Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea Plymouth Green)To respond to the pandemic, Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea Plymouth Green also launched its mobile ordering application. Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea Plymouth Green usually hosts several events each month within its space. Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea Plymouth Green is at 3393 Plymouth Rd.

So, hopefully we can be creative enough to make it work for everybody, said Steve Oz Osburn of Ozs Music. Having started his Music Environment in 1979, and his store, Ozs Music, in 1990, Osburn has been a part of Ann Arbors musical community for decades. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he and the other instructors at Ozs Music have had to teach their students online. At Ozs Music he usually offers weekly Open Stages for musicians to show off their skills he now holds those online. Ozs Music is at 1920 Packard St.Related: Small Biz Saturday: Ann Arbor salon zoey + joey anticipating touch-and-go future

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Owned by former professional tennis player Dominika Wozniak, Ann Arbor training studio FitPoint has taken fitness training online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through working with individuals and small classes, Wozniak said that the gym is able to adjust training and conditioning to individual client needs. With the closure of gyms and training spaces on March 16 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, FitPoint moved online to make sure its clients kept moving. They are offered at various times during the day for FitPoint clients and those interested in dropping-in. However, the training studio offers its virtual classes every day of the week at various times during the day.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. In 2012, Ilze Meija-Ham opened zoey + joey when she couldnt find a salon for her children, now shes trying to anticipate how and when she will be able to reopen. Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, Meija-Ham said zoey + joey clients were willing to drive from up to an hour away to have their children work with her stylists. Owner Ilze Meija-Ham said that clients drive from up an hour away in order to visit the Ann Arbor salon. (Ilze Meija-Ham)If she can reopen zoey + joey, Meija-Ham said that things will be touch-and-go. She anticipates barely being able to make ends meet after paying her overhead costs and her stylists. Nevertheless, she is trying to plan for the changes that will have to be made to zoey + joey.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Family owned and operated, Ayses Turkish Cafe has been feeding Ann Arborites for 27 years. Known for its seasonal, rotating menu of Turkish food, the cafe has transitioned to contactless carry out dining during the COVID-19 pandemic. I see some people regularly once a week on certain days actually, said Ayses Turkish Cafe owner, Aye Uras. Menu items at Ayse's Turkish Cafe rotate regularly depending on what is in season. During the pandemic, Ayses Turkish Cafe has donated weekly meals to the Delonis Center and has done a private fundraiser for Huron Valley Ambulance.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Tom Cederna of The Hair Spot has worked with generations of Ann Arbor families. Fifty years later, he opened The Hair Spot in May of 1984 with his then business partner, Billy Yates. A traditional barbershop, The Hair Spot does more than just give hair cuts. The barbershop has given to numerous organizations, including Ann Arbor Civitan Club, Motor Meals of Ann Arbor, Al-Anon and Veterans Affairs, among others. Related: Small Biz Saturday: Wheels in Motion keeps cyclists moving around Ann Arbor

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Established in 1933, Wheels in Motion has served Ann Arbor cyclists for 87 years. Now located on Washtenaw Ave, the bicycle business and repair shop has been busy working to help essential workers and Ann Arbor cyclists during the COVID-19 pandemic. His suppliers are actually out of new bicycles, so hes moved all of his inventory to the Ann Arbor location of Wheels in Motion. The Wheels in Motion has been repairing bikes from around Ann Arbor since the end of April. Over the course of its long history in Ann Arbor, the bike shop has been involved in community events and organizations.

Published: May 1, 2020, 6:59 pm Updated: May 2, 2020, 11:30 amANN ARBOR, Mich. Ann Arbors small businesses are awesome. From eateries to gift shops, comic book stores to cafes, small businesses keep Ann Arbor interesting and community-focused. To celebrate local small businesses, particularly now that they need community support more than ever, well be featuring small businesses every Saturday. Tell us your favorite small business in Ann Arbor and why it rocks.

Small Business Saturday is the annual holiday shopping season day devoted to shopping local. The Michigan Wolverines are taking on the Ohio State Buckeyes Saturday at noon in Ann Arbor. Local 4′s Larry Spruill was live in Ann Arbor this morning as cars started lining up to begin tailgating. Thanksgiving weekend continues to be chilly. Both snow and rain are in today’s forecast.