Bounce from shop to shop this Galentine’s Day in Ann Arbor. Main Street Ann Arbor has organized 23 stores that have a whole series of special drinks and giveaways to encourage people to ditch Amazon or Etsy and come support IRL storefronts.
“Galentine’s Day is about creating moments that bring people together while showcasing the creativity of our downtown businesses,” Ashley Schafer, the Executive Director of the Main Street Area Association, said in a press release. “It’s a chance to celebrate friendship, explore new shops, enjoy great food and drinks, and experience Ann Arbor in a really joyful way during the winter months.”
This year’s Galentine’s Day will be all day on Saturday, February 7. Stores often extend their hours to maximize the number of people who can take part.
According to Main Street Ann Arbor, the full list of participating businesses and their deals is:
- Bløm Cider + Mead | 100 South Fourth Avenue | 12pm – 11pm
- Galentine’s flight of four meads and ciders paired with a flight of Mindo chocolates
- Ann Arbor’s Raindance Farm will set up a build-your-own local bouquet bar, chock-full of colorful spring flowers. $20+ WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!
- Bloom City Club | 423 Miller Avenue | 9am – 9pm
- $20 Galentine’s Day Mini Mood Bundle
- Treat Youself Goodie Bags
- Chapala Mexican Restaurant | 211 North Main Street | 11am – 11pm
- Half off House Margaritas all day
- FREE dessert with purchase of dinner
- $15 Don Julio Shot Flights
- Cherry Republic | 223 South Main Street | 10am – 8pm
- $5 Cherry Wine Galentine’s Day drink to-go
- Enter to win a Cherry Republic gift box if you spend $40 or more all day
- Conor O’Neill’s | 318 South Main Street | 8am – 2am
- Photo Printed on Drink $8 Guinness, $8 Irish Coffee and $10 Espresso Martini
- cupsnchai | 214 South Fourth Avenue | 8am – 12am
- Chai flights – Rose Latte, Rice Pudding, Falooda Drink
- Detroit Pizza Pub | 207 North Main Street | 11am – 12am
- $3 drafts all day
- $5 Sangrias all day
- $25 large Specialty pizza and appetizer to share
- Ferne Boutique | 217 South Fourth Avenue | 11am – 6pm
- Custom sticker vending machine
- Double loyalty points on every purchase
- Free Ann Arbor Keychain with any purchase
- Four Directions | 211 South Main Street | 11am – 8pm
- 15% off your purchase
- Heidelberg | 215 North Main Street | 4pm – 2am
- $10 Boots all day
- $5 Bleeding Heart mixed drink (cherry vodka, peach vodka, raspberry syrup, lime juice)
- FREE appetizer with purchase of 2 dinners
- House Of Chimney Cakes Café | 216 South Fourth Avenue | 11am – 11pm
- 20% off coupons for future visits
- $20 Galentine edition Belgian Chocolate Strawberries
- $25 Dubai Chocolate Strawberries
- A variety of photo opportunities
- Jolly Pumpkin | 311 South Main Street | 12pm – 11pm
- $18 Salad and glass of wine
- A variety of drink specials
- A free drawing for a $30 gift card
- Le Bon Macaron | 209 South Fourth Avenue | 10am – 6pm
- A free macaron with any drink purchase for Galentine’s Day participants
- 10% off special Valentine’s Day macaron gift boxes
- London Beauty | 306 South Main Street | 10am – 7pm
- DIY Valentine Card Bar – make a Valentine for your favorite someone and get a discount on a single item
- Coffee and Valentine inspired treats
- Mindo Chocolate Makers | 206 North Forth Avenue | 8am – 7pm
- “Roll your own” Truffles for $20 (includes 5 truffles with box)
- Noteworthy Wants & Wonders | 305 South Main Street | 11am – 8pm
- 20% off Valentine’s themed items
- Pop-up permanent jewelry experience for customers from Forever Entwined from 1-6pm
- Mocktail sips for customers
- A giveaway basket worth $300 retail that customers may enter to win
- One Eleven Salon | 113 East Ann Street | 10:00am – 5:00pm
- $40 Galentine’s blowout special
- 25% off products (please make an appointment online or by calling 734.929.2188)
- Come in to get your passport stamped and be entered to win a gift basket full of products and a gift card for services to the salon
- Pretzel Bell (Downbar) | 226 South Main Street | 4pm – 2am
- A number of photo opportunities
- Themed cocktails upstairs and downstairs
- Renaissance Clothing | 306 South Main Street | 12pm – 6pm
- Giveaway drawing for a $200 shopping spree
- A Galentine’s day themed selfie wall
- Rock Paper Scissors | 216 South Main Street | 10am – 9pm
- Hosting Washtenaw Dairy’s Dirty Pop Pop Up
- A number of fun in store activities!
- Slows Bar Bq Ann Arbor | 207 East Washington Street | 11am – 10pm
- Specialty cocktail, Perd’s Final Word, named after Perd Hapley’s recurring bit in Parks & Recreation
- A photo area
- Raffle for a $100 gift card to be used for a catered event
- The Circ Bar | 210 South First Street | 6pm – 2am
- Galentines Day Mini Market pop-up shopping experience featuring local artists and crafters, perfect for gifts and treating yourself
- Stop by 12–6pm in the private event space King & White, and enjoy a FREE hot cocoa station while you shop!
- The Getup | 210 South Fourth Avenue | 11am – 8pm
- Make & take a vintage 1″ pinback button with us using recycled materials!
“Galentine’s is a breath of fresh air in the cold snowy month of February for us here at The Getup! It’s a great women-led event where the community really chooses to show up and shop local,” The Getup owner Kaylan Mitchell said. “This year, we are doing a make & take pinback button station. Gals & pals can make their own 3″ button with cutouts from vintage magazines and found print material from the 1950s through the 1990s. The button table will run from 11am-4pm (or until all supplies are exhausted) and The Getup will be open extended hours from 11am to 8pm.”
There is also a passport element to this. This comes in the form of sticker collection where if you peruse the selection of enough businesses, you can get in the running to win a gift basket full of goodies.
Once you have enough stickers, you can turn them into the cashier at any of the business that are participating according to Main Street Ann Arbor. Customers must turn them in by EOD on February 8 and the businesses will need to turn them in by EOD on February 9.
And remember, you will need to fill in your name and contact information onto your passport in order to be contacted in case you win. Any questions on how Galentine’s Day works can be directed to Schaffer at Director@MainStreetAnnArbor.org.
Drew Saunders is a freelance business and environmental journalist who grew up just outside of Ann Arbor. He covers local business developments, embraces his foodie side with reviews restaurants, obsesses over Michigan's environmental state, loves movies, and feels spoiled by the music he gets to review for Ann Arbor!
