by Riley Church
After Thanksgiving dinner is over many people go out into the cold to shop for great deals and Christmas presents. However some presents are forgotten and some people don’t wait and shop on Black Friday. This is when store owners must begin a new trick instead of great sales, holiday decorations and displays. However some stores decorate differently instead of the traditional Christmas with Santa decorations, many in the city of Fenton.
“The hustle and bustle of popular stores you see every day is not for me,” customer Erin Michaelson said. “I come and do my holiday shopping downtown where I don’t hear a talking Santa when I walk in every shop door.”
When walking through downtown Fenton there are many shops full of knick-knacks and treats for anyone to enjoy. There are places for shoes, jewelry, wholesome foods, antiques and other such gifts. All of these stores run by people who care about the city of Fenton and the citizens who live there.
“I would rather shop in town where I can trust the people selling me things,” one shopper, Crystal Hildreth, said. “It may be a little more expensive, but this quality I can trust.”
The Iron Grate, 103 W Shiawassee Ave., is a store filled with city chic items for many women and children to enjoy. Instead of springing for a Santa and reindeer showcase, the store has many holiday decorations such as wreaths, tree decorations and angels.
“When I walk in the store I feel warmth,” Hildreth said. “You instantly feel the holiday spirit, even without a talking Santa in the corner.”
Shopping for everyone can be a challenge, especially those who are environmentally friendly or have specific allergies. However preparing a feast or merely buying some nice beauty products for the holidays with such family and friends is not as hard as it sounds. Marjie’s Gluten Free Pantry, 112 W. Caroline St., can be a one-stop shop with these products in mind.
“Ever since Marjie took this store over I’ve felt more welcomed than ever,” Michaelson said.
Marjie keeps fresh gluten and dairy free products including many recipes for a whole five-course meal. Whenever possible Marjie also buys Michigan produced food.
“I try to keep the store updated with products everyone can enjoy for meals,” owner Marjie Andrejciw said. “People leave this store knowing they have made healthy and productive purchases.”
For the holiday season Marjie also has skipped a traditional holiday theme and simply produced many healthy gift ideas including gift bags with books, foods and/or beauty supplies.
“I wasn’t about to put Santa in my store window drinking a fruit spritzer instead of a soda, it would have been tacky,” Andrejciw said. “I just wanted to give me customers an idea on how to share what they know to their family and friends.”
However some stores are not even changing their store decorations for the holidays. The popular chiropractic office, Café of Life, 521 N Leroy St., has kept their office the same relaxing and peaceful settings they have always had. The office instead has a small sign greeting their clients with “Happy Holidays”.
“This is a place of relaxation,” Dr. Erica Peabody said. “I didn’t want to fluster anyone with a quick change in decorations that they would find in an everyday store or office.”
This does not mean the holidays are overlooked at the Café of Life.
“We encourage our clients to purchase gift cards for the holidays,” Peabody said.
The holidays are simple for the Café of Life, as for many of the other shops in Fenton. Many of the stores have a few decorations to remind customers of the holidays but even with few decorations the holidays are not forgotten in the city of Fenton.
“It’s nice to have a city with shops aware of the holidays but without anything too extravagant,” Michaelson said.
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