Folks up in the hinterlands of Ortonville and Goodrich rightly chastised yours truly for not mentioning local shopping in their neck of the woods. For those with short memories, recently I wrote about shopping local in Oxford (for The Oxford Leader), Lake Orion (for The Lake Orion Review) and Clarkston (for The Clarkston News — all these newspapers are sister publications of The Citizen — for the Ortonville-Goodrich area) and for unique stuff around our state.
So, in the spirit of giving, peace, love, harmony and Michael Row Your Boat Ashore, I’m penning a ‘Last Minute Shopping Guide.? With this handy bit of info you can easily tool up M-15 and get your shopping done with local entrepreneurial types, cool gifts, no crowds and happy faces . . . but, before I get too far into this, I should fall on my sword and run the note I received.
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Mr. Rush, Thanks for nothin?!
Your column in the December 11th edition of The Citizen, regarding gift giving ideas, was a slap in the face to all of the local businesses in the Ortonville-Goodrich area. The very same businesses that spend hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars each year advertising in your paper (and paying your salary I may add).
None of the businesses that you gave free advertising to spend a penny in our community nor do they use or hire local contractors, employees or businesses. Our business has been open less than a year, but we have donated to and supported over a dozen local charities and causes. I doubt that those businesses in Kingsley or Cedar Springs, that you cited, have ever even heard of Ortonville, let alone supported any of its local causes.
And then, sir, you had the audacity to highlight in bold, the websites of those businesses … thank you for giving another reason not to go out and shop in our own community.
For your information, Mr. Rush, our store carries products that are not only made in Michigan, but made locally.
And you would know that, if you would get your butt from in front of your computer and out into the local businesses.?
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Ouch! For a guy that spent a about decade on the Oxford Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, three as prez and three as VP, that stings. I guess the truth hurts (I just can’t handle the truth).
Outside Inn, on M-15 at the corner of Horton Road has lots of neat stuff (I know because my mother-in-law shops there). According to owner David Czajka, the store carries: essential oil soaps made in Goodrich, funky fleece hats made in Ortonville, soy candles of all sorts made in Brown City, Cherry Republic food products from Glen Arbor, Amish made lawn furniture among other things.
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Wren in the Willow, on M-15 in Goodrich has a big collection of country decorations and primitive art for gifts.
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If you’re gonna? get some jewelry for your loved one, don’t forget to visit D.L. Bonner in downtown Ortonville or Jim’s Jewelry on M-15, in Goodrich.
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Just opened is the Ortonville Smokehouse, on M-15 by the car wash. They have all sorts of smoked jerky, salami, sausages, hams, deli-meats, Michigan jellies and jams, gift baskets and more.
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In need of flowers and little knicky-knacky stuff, try Willowpointe in Ortonville. It’s located between the A&W and Oxford Bank on M-15 (parking in back).
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For the artsy ones in your life, Ortonville offers three cool stores, Art of Life, Plumtree and The Bead Shop. Plumtree is on M-15 with Art of Life and The Bead Shop in downtown..
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I would be remiss if I didn’t mention both Porter’s and Ashton’s Orchards for gift baskets, jams, jellies and apple products.
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And, for the men in your life, don’t forget Brown’s Do-It Center in Goodrich, Thompson Hardware in downtown Ortonville and Grove’s True Value on M-15 in Groveland Township (next to Bueche’s).
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I know I probably missed some folks, but area salons and restaurants have gift certificates . . . and, and, well, I’ll end this week, as I did the other:
There are a lot of places to shop locally, drive up and down the street, stop and shop. You’ll support the local businesses that (gulp) support local schools and the community. Tell ’em Rush sent ya!