‘Tis the season for cheery capitalism! As November slides into the frantic flurry of holiday shoppers racing against the Christmas/Kwanzaa/Hanukkah clock, consider stepping away from big-name corporations and instead purchasing from small businesses.

On Monday The Neighborhoods team split up and travelled to Detroit’s east, west, and southwest sides to visit some small local businesses. Here’s a few places I saw on the east side:

Maison’s Fine Foods Diner

When you think Detroit and doughnuts, Elias Donuts, Dutch Girl and maybe a J Dilla album come top of mind. Holy Moly Donut Shop on Eight Mile Road near the I-75 exchange is pitching itself to land among those household names.

Only a month after opening up, owner Victor Attisha, says the small shop has already become somewhat of a regional destination. “We get people from Jackson, Port Huron, Cincinnati and Cleveland,” he said. “People are coming from everywhere to try our donuts.” 

If you’re ever driving down East 8 Mile Road, you’ll end up passing a lot of things: a coney island, a weave shop, a Dollar Tree, all of which can be found all over Detroit. But right off Dequindre on the right side of the street is a family-owned business, Edwina’s Hand Car Wash, a one-of-a-kind.  

At The Neighborhoods, we’re interested in hearing from everybody in Detroit about what matters most to you.

Do you have a story to tell about what your community group is doing in the neighborhood? Tell us.

Do you have a story to tell about a home that needs to come down in your neighborhood? Tell us.