Ann Arbor. You already know about the Big House. You already know about the Diag. But do you know about the zero waste shop that is quietly changing how your neighbors shop? Or the jewelry store that has been on Main Street since your grandparents were in diapers?

Ann Arbor has always been a city that does things differently. And nowhere is that more obvious than in the small businesses that call it home. This week we are putting five of the most incredible hidden gems in your city on full blast. Some of these you may already love. Some of these are about to become your new favorites.

Only Ann Arbor could produce something this brilliant.

BYOC stands for Bring Your Own Container and it is exactly what it sounds like. You walk in with your own container, or grab one from their free donation shelf, and fill it up with everything from laundry detergent to shampoo to hand soap. No single use plastic. No waste. Just a smarter way to shop that makes you feel good about every purchase you make.

Founded by a University of Michigan graduate who looked at the way we buy everyday products and decided there had to be a better way. There was. And she built it right here in Ann Arbor.

This is not just a store. It is a movement. And it is yours.

Here is how this business started. Two people met while trekking to Everest base camp in 1998. They fell in love with Nepal, with its culture, with its people, and with the extraordinary craftsmanship of the artisans who live there. And then they came to Ann Arbor and built a store to share all of it with Michigan.

Himalayan Bazaar on Main Street carries handcrafted furniture, jewelry, and clothing made by small scale craftsmen in Nepal who are preserving traditional art forms that have existed for centuries. Every single item in that store has a story behind it. Every purchase you make supports a real artisan on the other side of the world.

Ann Arbor has always attracted people who think bigger than their zip code. Himalayan Bazaar is proof of that.

A lot of coffee shops say they are a community space. Hazel Coffee Co actually means it.

What started as a single mobile cafe rolling around Ann Arbor has grown into a full brick and mortar destination that feels like the living room you never had. The husband and wife team behind it are Michigan through and through and they built this place with one goal in mind. To give Ann Arbor a space where everyone feels welcome, comfortable, and genuinely at home.

The coffee is outstanding. The atmosphere is warm. And the story behind it is the kind of thing that makes you want to show up every single morning just to be part of it.

If you have not been yet, go this week. You will not regret it.

Every time you walk into FOUND Gallery it looks completely different from the last time you were there.

That is because FOUND is constantly rotating a stunning collection of art, home decor, jewelry, bags, and paper goods from a wide and ever changing roster of featured artists. This is not a store that plays it safe. Every display is thoughtful, every piece is unique, and every visit feels like a discovery.

Ann Arbor has always had an incredible arts community. FOUND is where that community comes to life in a way you can actually take home with you.

This is the store you bring out of town guests to when you want to show them what makes Ann Arbor special. Because nothing says this city better than a room full of beautiful things made by real artists.

Some businesses are institutions. Schlanderer and Sons is one of them.

Founded in 1933 by Hank Schlanderer and his two University of Michigan alumni sons, this family jewelry store has been a Main Street landmark for nearly 90 years. Today the fourth and fifth generations of the Schlanderer family are behind the counter carrying on a legacy of craftsmanship, integrity, and genuine care for every customer who walks through the door.

In a world where everything feels disposable and temporary, there is something deeply reassuring about a business that has been part of your city's story for nine decades. Ann Arbor has changed enormously since 1933. Schlanderer and Sons has been there for all of it.

If that is not worth celebrating we do not know what is.

These five businesses are not just places to spend money. They are proof of what makes your city one of the most special places in all of Michigan. They were built by people who believed in Ann Arbor enough to put everything they had into it.

The least we can do is show up for them.

Know a hidden gem in Ann Arbor or anywhere in Michigan that deserves to be spotlighted? Hit reply and tell us about it. We read every single message.

Until next week Michigan.

David
Michigan Small Business Spotlight

P.S. Want your Michigan business featured in our next newsletter? Reply to this email to learn more.

Introducing Gravité: the Cologne for Men from Particle that lasts up to 12 hours, giving you an amazing smell all day long.

Gravité is a true standout, blending bright citrus, warm amber, and aromatic rosemary, and scientifically engineered to last all day.

Bold, masculine, and refined without being overpowering, Gravité is guaranteed to earn compliments and quickly become your everyday signature scent.

Treat yourself (or that special man in your life) and enjoy an exclusive 20% off plus free shipping with code BH20!

Get 20% Off Today