Find the unexpected in Battle Creek’s most unique stores.
Bread & Basket curates products from small businesses, many of them owned by women and people of color. Space is given for local entrepreneurs, while owner Tiffany Blackman offers mentoring to new businesses.
Shoppers will find a lot of self-care products, things that will make you look good and feel good. The candles are always a big hit. It’s also easy to put together a bath time routine with lotions, soaks, tea and even books picked for ideal tub reading.
Speaking of bath time, Aspidistra makes its own soaps from natural ingredients. Stepping into the gift shop is an aromatherapy experience. Aspidistra also stocks small items from makers in the area, like hot sauce and wood carvings.
Aspidistra and Bread & Basket both have roots with BC Cargo, open during the summers. Cargo crates have been painted bright blue and small businesses can use them for pop-up spaces. There have been all kinds of things sold through there, from coffee to tie-dye.
New Holland Brewing Co. has a sizable downtown store, in addition to its brewpub. If you love cocktails, try a Fitzgerald at the bar then buy some Knickerbocker gin to make your own. The most popular item is the Dragon’s Milk Origin Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey. Pick it up when you see it, because it’ll soon be gone.
Across town is Plumeria, for all of the plant lovers. Besides a floral shop, Plumeria sells house plants and they’ll answer any questions about plants that need some extra care. There’s also a cuttings wall, if you want to grow from scratch.
Farmer Grey’s is in an unusual building – the 1859 schoolhouse has been converted into an antique store. That’s lots of fun treasures to discover, like bobbins or tiny candelabras or a taxidermy chicken.
