GifteD gathers local retailers in one Downtown location for holiday shopping

Compuware is opening up a vacant storefront in its parking structure on Monroe St. to local retailers and service providers for holiday shopping. GifteD – A Holiday Boutique, will run every Friday starting Nov. 19 — to coincide with the Campus Martius tree lighting ceremony — through Christmas Eve.

Local retailers that will be selling their goods at GifteD include:

• Bureau of Urban Living, a Midtown boutique that sells modern accessories for home and office;
• Unique contemporary arts and goods from Re:View Gallery;
• Stylish t-shirts and hats, many with a local flavor, from DSE @ Grand;
• City Bird‘s one-of-a-kind handmade items;
• Bikes and bike accessories from Wheelhouse Detroit;
• High-end urban wear from Downtown’s Rags;
• Locally designed Wound menswear; and
• Books and graphic novels from independent purveyor Leopold’s.

GifteD is intended to benefit Downtown residents, workers and visitors by diversifying their shopping options, but it is also a boon to participating merchants. “We’re really excited to, over the holidays, have a presence Downtown,” says Emily Linn, co-owner of City Bird, which is located on W. Canfield. “(It’s a way to) reach out to people who work Downtown and maybe don’t spend a lot of time in Midtown.”

Onsite services will include dog training from Canine to Five, coffee from Chez Zara, Re:new Detroit massage and tailoring from Motor City Sewing. Keep up-to-date on the pop-up shop at its Facebook Page. General hours of operation for GifteD are as follows:

• Friday, Nov. 19, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 26, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 3, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 10, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 17, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 24, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Source: Megan Heeres, Compuware and Emily Linn, City Bird
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh (Disclosure: Kavanaugh is co-owner of Wheelhouse, a GifteD participating retailer.)