Once that delicious, golden brown roasted turkey has been reduced to a pile of bones and a foil-wrapped mound of leftovers for weekend sandwiches, St. Joseph Today hopes you will strap on your shopping shoes and make your way to downtown St. Joseph and lots of other local destinations that offer up unique buys at dozens of shops owned and operated by your friends and neighbors in the business community.
Holiday shoppers in search of great buys will find them throughout Michigan’s Great Southwest on Black Friday, November 23rd, Small Business Saturday, November 24th, and throughout the entire holiday shopping season. Select merchants will begin their holiday sales on Black Friday if not sooner. That day, in addition to special sales, shoppers in downtown St. Joseph’s central business district can also enjoy free, horse-drawn trolley rides from noon to 3 pm, weather permitting, sponsored by the Frederick S. Upton Foundation.
Amy Zapal is Executive Director of St. Joseph Today. She promises, “You will easily find gifts for everyone on your holiday shopping list from our merchants, restaurants and entertainment venues.” She notes, “From the latest fashions to locally made wines and candies, to gourmet foods, to award-winning toys and games to museum memberships to fresh-baked pet biscuits, you won’t be disappointed with any of your choices.”
Zapal says another appreciated present is a St. Joseph Today gift certificate, redeemable at participating member stores, restaurants and hotels. They can be purchased at the Welcome Center located at 301 State Street, and are good at over 40 different locations.
According to the Civic Economic Study in Grand Rapids, when someone spends $100 at a local business, approximately $68 stays in the local community. Lauren Kniebes, co-owner of Lazy Ballerina Winery says she shops small because she believes that, “Supporting local businesses in the community I live in and work in promotes economic well-being and works full circle when you own a business in that community. I prefer to support my neighbors and friends.”
Participants include Blue Moon Vintage Market, Box Factory for the Arts, Chartreuse, DK Boutique, Edgewater Gifts, Friends by Design, FuzzyButz, Gallery on the Alley, Glik’s, Grins of St. Joseph, LakeHouse Restaurant, Lana’s Boutique, Lazy Daisy, Moxie’s Boutique, Oh My Darlings, Olive Cart, Pier 1000, Plank’s/Inn at Harbor Shores, ReVive Spa, State Street Stuff, The Candlestick Maker, The Livery, Urban Garage Market, Wanderlust Outfitters, Waterfront Framing & Fine Art and many more.
For a list of shops, and Small Business Saturday specials, visit stjoetoday.com/shopsmall. As of Tuesday night these were the offerings listed there:
- Biggby Coffee St. Joseph: 20% off merchandise!
- Blue Moon Vintage Market: Holiday Market November 23-25th. 6000+ square feet of vintage, industrial, home decor, Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan and more! 10am-5pm.
- Box Factory for the Arts: Holiday Makers Market at the Box from 10am-6pm!
- Chartreuse:
- DK Boutique:
- Edgewater Gifts: Stop, Shop & Save! Select items marked down and arrival of new Christmas gifts!
- Elephants Breath Antiques: 10-50% off selected items.
- Forever Books: Book Signing with Margaret Willey, author of A Clever Beatrice Christmas, from 1-3pm!
- Freedom Boat Club: Check out the club and current membership special!
- Friends by Design: 25% off the entire store! All full price merchandise is included and an additional 25% will be taken off the lowest sale price. Stop by for your “Always in Style” merchandise and enjoy a piece of cake!
- FuzzyButz:
- Gallery on the Alley: 15% off storewide and sweet treats!
- Glik’s of St. Joseph: Enjoy free gift wrapping! Open at 6am on Black Friday (11/23/18).
- Grins of St. Joseph:
- LakeHouse Restaurant:
- Lana’s Boutique:
- Lazy Ballerina Winery:
- Lazy Daisy:
- Mimi’s Cupcakes: 10% off purchases of 6 or more cupcakes!
- Moxie’s Boutique:
- Oh My Darlings: Buy one craft item and get one half off.
- Olive Cart: Holiday cash promotion – receive a free holiday cash card with every purchase over $50!
- Plank’s / Inn at Harbor Shores:
- reVive Spa: 10% off all products and services – book any hands-on service this weekend, schedule through the rest of November and get 10% off – Christmas gift cards include free gifts!
- State Street Stuff: Black Friday Weekend Specials! November 23-25
- The Candlestick Maker: “Buy three, get one free” on all candles in stock!
- The Christmas Tree:
- The Livery:
- The Natural Gem: 10% off selected items (not including consignment)
- Urban Garage Market: Sweet treats – Metal Hand Stamping Workshop!
- Wanderlust Outfitters: Up to 30% off select products from brands like Kuhl, prAna, The North Face, Osprey, Patagonia & more!
- Waterfront Framing & Fine Art:
- White Pine Winery:
Shoppers can also find choices of restaurants, hotels and upcoming holiday events at stjoetoday.com, facebook.com/stjoetoday or stop in to the Welcome Center.
St. Joseph Today is a membership-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, dedicated to developing and promoting events and business in St. Joseph and its surrounding communities.
