Businesses work together to draw holiday shoppers to the Villages
Nine businesses throughout Detroit's Villages neighborhoods are making a play for holiday shoppers with the introduction of a shopping passport.
Nine businesses throughout Detroit’s Villages neighborhoods are making a play for holiday shoppers with the introduction of a shopping passport. Completion of the passport enters shoppers into a January lottery where winners will be chosen at random and receive gift certificates to participating businesses.
Most of the nine businesses taking part in the Villages Passport are relatively new and located in West Village, reflecting the boom in small business development in that neighborhood. The businesses are offering a number of specials throughout the shopping season, including food and drink specials at Craft Work and free gift-wrapping at Sparkle in the Village. Shoppers get their passports stamped as they visit each store throughout the month of December.
Businesses participating in the Villages Passport:
- The Collective, an arts incubator and vendor located in an historic English Tudor mansion in Indian Village
- Sparkle in the Village, a salon and “his and hers novelty store” located across from Parker Street Market
- Parker Street Market, a small organic foods store in West Village
- Paramita Sound, a new and used vinyl records store opened in November
- Detroit Vegan Soul, a vegan restaurant on Agnes Street
- Tarot & Tea, a tea shop that also offers tarot card and spiritual readings
- Sister Pie, winner of the 2014 Hatch contest and operating out of Parker Street Market during the holiday season
- Red Hook, a brand new coffee shop that joined the shops on Agnes Street
- Craft Work, a popular West Village restaurant and bar
The Villages Passport came as a result of September’s Detroit Design Festival. According to Brian Hurttienne, executive director of the Villages CDC, a number of the shops participating in DDF experienced such great business during the event that they expressed a desire for organizing something for the holidays.
“There are more and more businesses wanting to do things together. There’s a comradery happening,” says Hurttienne. “It really shows that this is a true neighborhood.”
On Saturday, December 13, the Villages will host Shop Detroit, a holiday shopping booster program started by the Detroit branch of the NAACP in 1988. Hurttienne is currently recruiting several pop-up businesses to complement the event.
The Villages Passports can be picked up and, once completed, returned at any of the nine participating businesses throughout the month of December.
Source: Brian Hurttienne, executive director of the Villages CDC
Writer: MJ Galbraith
Got a development news story to share? Email MJ Galbraith here or send him a tweet @mikegalbraith.
Related Articles
Double bill: Detroit Opera to present William Grant Still’s ‘Highway 1, USA’ and Kurt Weill’s ‘Down in the Valley’
The double bill features an all Black cast and several returning artists. Director Kaneza Schaal — winner of a 2025 Doris Duke Artist Award — returns to direct both operas.
Holiday happenings: What’s up at Eastern Market and a rundown of DSO performances
An update on some things to do if you’re looking for ways to get in the holiday spirit.
A deeper commitment to Detroit Arts and community development comes from Hudson-Webber Foundation
A multi-million dollar Investment provides critical funding and bolsters one of Southeast Michigan’s largest arts and cultural initiatives while supporting nonprofit collaboration throughout metro Detroit.
