Looking for Detroit gift ideas? Check out My Favorite Detroit Things 2020 list to help you find a unique gift!


As the year draws to a close, I wanted to share a few of my favorite Detroit businesses. You can also use this as a last-minute gift guide if you’re looking for Detroit gift ideas.

The small businesses featured on my list are places I have visited in 2020. Some are places I frequently visit and others are new places I have discovered this year.

I remember seeing a meme on Instagram the other day that read, “Every time you buy something from a small business someone does a happy dance.”

It’s been a tough year, to say the least. Now more than ever, it’s the perfect time to support our local business owners. I hope my “Favorite Detroit Things” list inspires you to support a Detroit small business (or one in your city)!

 SIXTEEN DETROIT GIFT IDEAS

Germack Roasting Co.

Germack Coffee Detroit

If you follow me on Instagram, then you already know how much I love Germack Roasting Co.! My favorite coffee blend is the Sunday Drive. I also like to buy lavender at Germack and I use the flower to sprinkle in my coffee grounds. It’s SO good! 

You can also buy other food products besides coffee. Germack Roasting Co. sells honey, nut butters, granola, herbal teas, and more. I even bought my French press at Germack. It’s now the only way I make my coffee. 

Address: 2517 Russell Street, Detroit

Phone: (313) 784-9484

Website: https://www.germack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/germackcoffeeroasting/

Mama Coo’s Boutique

Mama Coo's Boutique

Mama Coo’s Boutique is one of my favorite vintage stores in Detroit. I love finding unique home decor pieces, fun accessories (most of my earrings come from Mama Coo’s), and vintage fashion styles.

The prices are always very affordable, and you can find a variety of plus size clothing. 

Address: 1701 Trumbull, Detroit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamacoosboutique/

The Kitchen by Cooking with Que

The Kitchen by Cooking with Que

About a year ago, I had the pleasure of interviewing Quiana “Que” Broden. She is the owner and creator of Cooking with Que and her mission has always been to help people learn how to “eat to live.”

If you ever get a chance to meet Que, she is a joy to talk to. I love her positive energy and zest for life!

I also love Que’s new restaurant The Kitchen by Cooking with Que. You have to try the Taco Tuesday specials! We went a few weeks ago and loved it!

Make sure you get the lavender lemonade and banana pudding. A gift card from The Kitchen by Cooking with Que would also make a great gift idea!

Address: 6529 Woodward Ave, Suite A, Detroit

Phone: (313) 462-4184

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekitchenbycwq/

Website: https://www.thekitchenbycwq.com/

Narrow Way Cafe

Narrow Way Cafe Detroit

Narrow Way Cafe & Shop has a monthly “Stress-Free Java Club.” Purchasing a monthly coffee subscription for a friend or loved one would make a great holiday gift for a coffee lover!

For a $19.99 monthly fee, will ship a 12 oz. bag of coffee to the address of your choice. 

Travis loves Narrow Way’s High Noon medium roast coffee. He said the coffee is flavorful with subtle hints of fruity, earthy flavors. “It was bold, but not overly bitter as coffee can often be,” Travis said. “Having a fresh ground bean may be the reason for this. The energy provided from the coffee lasted a bit longer than that provided by canned coffee. I would purchase High Noon coffee again!” 

Address: 19333 Livernois Ave., Detroit

Phone: (313) 397-7727

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenarrowwaycafe/

Website: https://thenarrowwaycafe.com/

Little High Flyers

Sixteen Detroit Gift Ideas from Local Small Businesses

Little High Flyers is a women-owned, Detroit small business located in the Cass Corridor of Detroit. I love Little High Flyers because it features slow fashion products, children’s books, and home decor art pieces for kids.

My favorite clothing items from Little High Flyers is the signature Detroit fist bump tee and “Speaker of the House” sweatshirt. They’re adorable! Check out Little High Flyer’s recommended gift list below!

Address: 4240 Cass Ave, Suite 106, Detroit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlehighflyers/

Website: https://littlehighflyers.com/

Sixteen Detroit Gift Ideas from Local Small Businesses
Graphic courtesy Little High Flyers

Xochi’s Gift Shop

Sixteen Detroit Gift Ideas from Local Small Businesses

Located in Southwest Detroit, Xochi’s Gift Shop specializes in Mexican folk art, handmade crafts, clay pottery, unique jewelry, and more gifts. During our visit at Xochi’s, Zhen and I picked out two beautiful, Mexican folk art pieces. 

The gift shop also has a variety of lovely Christmas decorations. I love the embroidered star tree topper and embroidered puff hearts!

I saw many other items that I think will make great Christmas gifts for family and friends so make sure you check out Xochi’s website or visit the shop in Southwest Detroit. 

Address: 3437 Bagley, Detroit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xochisgiftshop/

Website: https://www.xochis.net/

Detroit 75 Kitchen

Detroit 75 Kitchen
Photo credit: Detroit 75 Kitchen

Detroit 75 Kitchen is my favorite Detroit food truck. We first discovered the restaurant in 2016, about a year after we moved to Michigan. Located on 4800 West Fort Street, this stationary food truck specializes in artisan sandwiches. 

I love all of the food Detroit 75 Kitchen makes, but here are a few of my favorites:

Atwater Chicken Sandwich

Fisher Fwy. Fish Sandwich

BBQ Chicken Egg Rolls

Garlic Cilantro Fries

Address: 4800 W. Fort Street, Detroit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/detroit75kitchen/

Website: https://detroit75kitchen.com/

LIV Ferndale 

LIV Ferndale

Established in 2019, LIV Ferndale is one of my favorite cannabis dispensaries in the metro area. LIV now offers services for both medical and recreational customers.

My favorite products to buy at LIV are the Sativa gummies, fudge edibles, and Sativa flower. I also like to buy a CBD-based topical to use for my chronic back pain. Works every time! (Make sure you research cannabis before purchasing so you understand which types are best for you.)

For my birthday, I used LIV Ferndales’ delivery service and I was really pleased with the great customer service. It was very easy to place my order and I received it in a timely manner. The curbside pickup service is also a great way to get your orders quickly while social distancing.

**SPECIAL NOTE: These cannabis products are for adults 21+. Please make sure you keep your edibles in a safe place that is out of reach of children and pets.

Address: 2625 Hilton Rd., Suite 100, Ferndale

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livferndale/

Website: https://livferndale.com/

La Gloria’s Bakery

La Gloria Bakery Southwest Detroit

La Gloria Bakery is located in Southwest Detroit and it’s one of our favorite places to visit. The kids love picking out their own cookies and pastries at the bakery. I love the budget-friendly prices because, with our family size, buying baked goods at La Gloria doesn’t hurt our wallet! 🙂 

This would make a great gift idea if you’d like to get your kids some holiday treats. You could also use them as stocking stuffers by wrapping them in Christmas paper or putting them in a Ziploc bag. I’m going to do this for the kids’ stockings. 

Address: 3345 Bagley, Detroit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/la_gloria_bakery_/

La Gloria Bakery Southwest Detroit

Arts & Scraps

Arts & Scraps Detroit

We love shopping at Arts & Scraps’ community store for our art and school supplies. Whenever we take the kids to Arts & Scraps, they like to grab a basket and fill it with art supplies and toys.

We always get at least two large paper bags, which cost us about $16. The supplies we get typically last us for one season! 

Plus, our purchases help support Detroit teachers and students! Arts & Scraps also provides art programs and art supplies to local schools. They recently donated art kits to Detroit students who are currently doing school virtually because of the pandemic. 

Arts and Scraps Detroit

Another great gift idea is making a donation to Arts & Scraps. This would be a great way to support a Detroit organization and Detroit families! You can either make a monetary donation or donate art/scrap supplies you no longer need.

Address: 16135 Harper Ave., Detroit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artsandscraps/

Website: https://www.artsandscraps.org/

Sixteen Detroit Gift Ideas from Local Small Businesses

The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

I eat no for breakfast. Kamala Harris quote

Did you know The Wright has its own gift shop? You can find a variety of gift ideas such as art, face masks, African American books, and Kwanzaa merchandise.

The Wright has a beautiful hand-carved wood Kinara for $34. This also includes the traditional seven black, green, and red candles.

My favorite product from The Wright right now is the subscription shirt service. Each month, you will receive a new tee with a message printed on it. November’s message was a quote from Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris. 

Another great gift idea you can give a loved one from The Wright is a gift card or an annual museum membership!

Address: 315 E. Warren Ave., Detroit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewrightmuseum/

Website: https://www.thewright.org/

All Things Marketplace 

All Things Marketplace | All Things Detroit
All Things Detroit

Founded by Jennyfer Crawford (aka Ask Jennyfer), All Things Marketplace features products from Detroit and Michigan small business owners. You can conveniently place an order online or shop in-person at the Corktown store location. 

A few weeks ago, Travis and I visited All Things Marketplace to find holiday gifts for our family. I purchased a Detroit Pistons cap for my dad (because he loves collecting hats), a Purple Passion and Butt Naked Sasha Sass candle (that smell SO good), and an All Things Detroit top for myself (because why not?!). 

Address: 1620 Michigan Ave., Suite 123, Detroit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allthingsmarketplace/

Website:  https://allthingsmarketplace.com/

Sixteen Detroit Gift Ideas from Local Small Businesses

Marie & Co.

Sixteen Detroit Gift Ideas from Local Small Businesses

A few months ago, I bought a coloring book from Marie & Co. called “Wonderfully and Fearfully Made” as a gift for Zhen. She loves coloring in her new coloring book often and I love the positive messages found throughout the book.

Representation matters and Marie & Co.’s coloring book is a great way to encourage children!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilovemarieandco/

Supino’s Pizzeria

Supino’s Pizzeria will forever be my first Detroit pizza love because it’s the first pizza restaurant to introduce me to Detroit pizza! I remember taking my mom and sister to Supino’s when they came to visit us a few years ago. They both loved it! 

Did you know there’s a new Supino’s Pizzeria opening in New Center?

I’m excited to visit the new location in January 2021! Purchase a gift card or Supino’s tee for a stocking stuffer for the pizza lover in your life.

Address: 2457 Russell Street, Detroit

Phone: (313) 567-7879

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/supinopizzeria/

Website: https://www.supinopizzeria.com/

Supino's Pizzeria Detroit

Bon Bon Bon

Sixteen Detroit Gift Ideas from Local Small Businesses | Bon Bon Bon Detroit

Our first visit to Bon Bon Bon was just a few weeks ago. We picked up a variety of chocolates for the family and everyone loved them!

My favorite Bon Bon Bon chocolate is the Better Butter Crunch. The last time I checked the website, Better Butter Crunch wasn’t available. If they do make it again, then make sure you grab it while you can because it’s worth it!

Bon Bon Bon is very popular and their special collections often sell out fast. But you can always visit the store for a socially-distanced visit to pick up a few chocolates for loved ones!

Gift cards will also make a great gift for your family and friends to use in the new year.

Address: 441 W. Canfield St., Suite 12, Midtown Detroit

Phone: (313) 316-1430

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonbonbonchocolate/

Website: https://bonbonbon.com/

Pie-Sci

Pie-Sci Detroit Pizza Trumball

Pie-Sci Pizza is another Detroit pizza restaurant my whole family loves. It’s Zhen’s favorite pizza restaurant. I think she asks me if we can get Pie-Sci pizza at least once a month! Haha!

She loves getting a pepperoni pineapple pizza and a vegan cookie ice cream sandwich for dessert.

You can find vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free pizzas at Pie-Sci. They’re also famous for creating unique pizza recipes each season, such as the Detroit Brussels Harder, Lil’ Kimchi, and Hei-Dill-Berg.

One time, we ordered a Big Mac flavored pizza that Travis really loved. 

Pie-Sci Detroit Pizza

Just like Supino’s Pizzeria, a gift card or cool Pie-Sci tee would make a fun Detroit gift idea!

Address: 5163 Trumbull, Detroit

Phone: (313) 818-0290

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/piescipizza/

Website: https://piescipizza.com/

I hope my list of “Detroit Favorite Things” helps you with any last-minute gift shopping or inspires you to try something new sometime. Show your love for Detroit businesses this holiday season and beyond! 

Do you have a favorite small business you love to visit?

Feature image by Albina, Detroit Photographer. Unless otherwise noted, all images are courtesy of Jennifer Hamra for Good Life Detroit.


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Written by

Jennifer Hamra

Freelance creative Jennifer Hamra created her blog Good Life Detroit in 2015 after relocating from Tennessee to Southeast Michigan.

Inspired by her love for personal blogging and photography, Jennifer likes to share her favorite Detroit things, from cool places to visit (the hidden gems are her favorite!) to the amazing people she has connected with over the years.

When she's not busy juggling family life and her creative projects, you can find her at an art gallery, community event, farmers market, or spending quiet time at home with a good book and cup of tea.

Jennifer lives in the metro Detroit area with her husband Travis and their six children.

Connect with Jennifer on social media @goodlifedetroit on all social media platforms or via email at [email protected].