GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A collection of local businesses in the city’s west side and Monroe Center-area are offering a bundle of deals and experiences for this year’s Small Business Saturday.
Deemed their 2nd-annual “Holly Sip and Shop Hop,” organizer and Art of Life Gallery co-owner Tia Riva said many of the stores participating are local families with roots in the area’s westside.
In 2021, seven businesses took part. This year, it has grown to ten.
Customers can pick up a punch card at any of the participating locations to begin the “Shop Hop.” Those who get an initial from all ten businesses will be entered into a drawing. A total of three will be selected to win a gift basket full of more than $100 in merchandise.
According to the event’s website, each venue will be offering specials, as well as host live music with local guest artists.
Those participating include:
- The Art of Life Gallery at 1134 Leonard St. NW
- Shakedown Street on 670 Leonard St. NW
- The Holiday Bar on 801 5th St. NW
- Ball Park Floral on 8 Valley Ave NW
- Flashback Vintage at 1136 Leonard St. NW
- The 12th House on 8 Jefferson St
- Gazelle Sports at 52 Monroe Center
- Old World Olive Company on 108 Monroe Center
- The Aroma Labs on 76 Monroe Center
- Periwinkle Fog at the Ledyard Building on 125 Ottawa Ave NW #160
While the presence of local shopping in the west side may be lower compared to Grand Rapids’ downtown and east side, the hope is that the event will continue to grow their commerce scene.
“That's why we're doing the event,” Riva said. “So people know that we're here, and they know where we are and what we have to offer. So slowly, but surely, everybody will know about us.”
Shakedown Street, a ‘70s-like homage to the Grateful Dead along Leonard Street, has served as an eclectic boutique and smoke shop for 30 years. As a returning business for the “Shop Hop” this year, they’ll be featuring live music inside the store.
“I'm just excited to see everybody's smiling faces tomorrow,and having live music is always exciting,” Shakedown Street owner Rhonda Miller said. “People get very smiley when they hear good music and they've kind of stick around and shop a little longer to hear their favorite song.”
Adding that small businesses is a staple of the community, Miller said it was exciting when a Small Business Saturday-like push came to the area’s westside.
“You have a lot of really great little shops and little restaurants that are popping up,” she said. “It's been a lot of fun – I'm really happy to see Leonard Street growing.”
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