Where to Do Your Holiday Shopping in Marquette This Year

If the snow and cold wasn’t enough to clue you in, the holiday lights and decorations adorning Marquette’s streetscape, storefronts and home make it clear that, once again, ’tis the season. And you know what that means: Amid all the holiday cheer, it’s time to start buying gifts for those special someone(s) — and everyone else who’s deserving of a gift this year. If you live in or near Marquette, or you’re visiting family in our fair home, here’s a list of local stores and galleries to get you started.

Michigan Made Beer Wine and More

Michigan Made Beer Wine and More is a popular store in the community of Harvey, just southeast of Marquette. Run by Holly Jo Smith and Brian Elenich, Michigan made opened in 2013 and has already made a name for itself as a top source for locally produced beverages, foods and crafts. It sources many items from right here in Marquette County, so it’s about as local as you can get. Popular items include:

  • a huge lineup of Michigan beer, including hard-to-find varieties
  • wines from the Garden Peninsula and the Traverse City area
  • locally made chocolates and candies
  • glasses and stemware
  • branded and printed apparel

Everyday Wines

Like Michigan Made, Everyday Wines sells a lot of locally made wine and beer, plus some high-end items like jams, charcuterie and glassware. But it definitely focuses more on wine, with many varietals from the Lower Peninsula as well as an international selection of the finest reds, whites and blush wines. Most of Everyday Wines’ inventory is under $25 per bottle, making it a great place to pick up an affordable gift or supplies for a holiday party.

Down Wind Sports

Located in the heart of Marquette’s Third Street shopping district, Down Wind Sports is a great place to find durable, memorable gifts for active friends and family members. The store has just about every type of sporting equipment you can dream of, from Nordic and downhill skis to fat bikes and kayaks. You can also find apparel and specialized accessories here as well. If you have friends or family members in town, Down Wind may be a good place to rent skis for them.

Casualties

Just across the street from Down Wind, Casualties is a more narrowly focused sport and apparel shop that focuses on the skateboarding and snowboarding niches. That doesn’t mean you can’t find a huge range of gifts here, from snowboard boots and sneakers to stylish cold-weather gear. What better way to show that Marquette is a fashion capital with a Casualties-sourced gift to an out of town family member?

Zero Degrees Artist Cooperative

Less than a block from Down Wind and Casualties — sensing a theme here? — lies Zero Degrees Artist Cooperative, one of the most important nodes in Marquette’s vibrant arts scene. Zero Degrees boasts prints, paintings, crafts, mixed media and other types of art from artists across the U.P., making it a great choice for artsy gift recipients. Some of its artists may also sell their work directly, so feel free to check out their websites or Facebook pages as well.

Donckers

Who doesn’t love Donckers? Its upstairs cafe serves up a full, tasty menu, much of which is sourced from in or near the U.P., and the owners are in the early stages of an ambitious project to remake the nearby Delft Theater. But for holiday shoppers, the real star of Donckers’ show is a downstairs candy shop with dozens of varieties of house-made chocolates, caramels and other treats. Try the chocolate covered blueberries or espresso beans, or opt for a gigantic peanut butter cup made from high-quality dark chocolate. The sky’s the limit here!