’Tis the Season to
Shop Local
Retailers List
19
DECEMBER 2018
Throughout the year we have featured a number of wonderful local retailers you may want to consider for last minute Christmas gifts. Here are links to those business’ LBN articles:
Local Business News Executive Editor Glenn Gilbert discussed LBN’s ’Tis the Season to Shop Local campaign with LBN Publisher Guy Williams.
Joe’s Army Navy: A Great Place for Stocking Stuffers
13
DECEMBER 2018
BY REBECCA CALAPPI
LBN Community Series
Royal Oak
Jeff Goldsmith has never met a gas mask he didn’t like. Good thing for him they fit right in at Joe’s Army Navy Surplus.
Jeff Goldsmith is now the owner of the store, which has been a Royal Oak mainstay since 1976.
“Dad bought the business with a partner in 1972 when it was in Pontiac,” said Goldsmith.
OWNER, JOE’S ARMY NAVY SURPLUS
After Goldsmith’s dad, Herman, split with his business partner in the 1970s, he kept the Pontiac store, while the ex-partner opened a store in Royal Oak. Herman decided to move the store from Pontiac to Waterford, where they still do a brisk business.
Jeff Goldsmith joined his father in the business in 1985.
Three years later, Herman bought the inventory from the Royal Oak store in a bank auction from his ex-partner and re-opened Joe’s Army Navy in Royal Oak on Main Street. Then, in 2001, as parking became more and more of an issue, they moved the store north on Woodward Avenue.
Now, at 87, Herman is retired, but still comes in to the store every day. “He does the payables, but he’s not as active on the floor as he used to be,” said Jeff Goldsmith. “He makes my life easier.”
While the store carries family history for the Goldsmiths, it’s a virtual treasure trove for military enthusiasts, preppers, those who spend a lot of time outdoors and anyone who is serious about staying warm in the winter.
Joe’s carries all kinds of cold weather gear from authentic military pea coats, hats and gloves, to Carhartt brand apparel, boots that protect against the cold to minus 10 degrees and long johns.
Not what you’re looking for? Goldsmith said he has 200 kinds of pocket knives, 40 different tactical boots, 30 distinctive tent stakes, 12 brands of military and commercial blankets and a wall of bags.
“And year-round we sell thousands and thousands of socks,” said Goldsmith.
“If you’re looking for gear, they’ve got it from A to Z here.”
Not blind to the conveniences of online shopping, Goldsmith is proud to be able to offer those who need a break from the cold an excellent selection, without the wait for delivery.
Michael Stone, of Warren, is one of those people. “I was looking for a pair of boots,” he said. “I have construction boots on and sometimes they just don’t cut it. If you’re looking for gear, they’ve got it from A to Z here.”
Stone said that this purchase was his first at Joe’s Army Navy, but it won’t be his last. In fact, he plans on bringing his girlfriend to the store soon to do some shopping.
But Joe’s Army Navy has even more interesting things going for it. Take the military surplus items available. While the United States military no longer sells surplus items at auction, other countries still do. Shoppers can find coats from Germany, gas masks from Israel and blankets from Croatia. A wall of ammo cans in every size and camouflage tarping is at the back of the store. Military carry consignment items are also available, so those interested in U.S. military items can find a few gems, too.
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“Army Navy stores have an aura of ‘You never know what you’ll find,’” said Goldsmith. “I don’t want them to find something they can get in a Dick’s or Dunham’s. We’re kind of a catch-all.”
Shoppers can also have personalized military dog tags made in the store for just one person, or a whole party. Morale patches, military pins, first aid supplies, flashlights and MREs—meals ready to eat—all make unique gift ideas.
“We’re like the kings of stocking stuffers,” said Goldsmith.
32302 Woodward Ave
Royal Oak, MI 48073
248.549.2692
981 West Huron
Waterford, MI 48328
248.681.5277
The holiday season can be bittersweet for those grieving a loss. Claudia Been, MA, grief support service manager for Oakland County, will lead a discussion on ways to cope with the holidays while honoring the memory of your loved one. There is no fee for the Friday, December 21 session, which will take place 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Senior Center.
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Construction began Thursday, December 6 on a new $12.2 million City Hall in Royal Oak. Designed to better meet the community’s needs, these are a few of the improvements that were incorporated into the new city hall:
Learn more about the city hall project and see the building plans at rethinkro.com.
Parking – During construction, 186 parking spaces will be used for materials and equipment. Visitors to city hall and the library can continue to park in lot #4 between city hall, the library and the police department and may also use the west lot at the farmers market, across Troy Street from the library. Download the city’s guide to alternative parking at rethinkro.com. A brand-new parking garage one block west of the construction site is scheduled to bring 581 parking spaces to the area in June 2019.
The Royal Oak Farmers Market – The farmers market will remain open during the construction. Market officials have been working on solutions to make the market user-friendly during construction, including free valet parking and shopping carts.
Once the new city hall and police station (tentatively scheduled to begin construction in January) are completed, the old buildings will be torn down. After that, construction will begin on a new 2-acre downtown park. Residents have played an integral role in helping direct the look and feel of the new green space.
The community will get its first look at the results of months of public engagement on December 12 at 6 p.m. when the Downtown Park Task Force meets in Room 315 at City Hall. The presentation will be repeated to the Royal Oak City Commission on December 17 at 7:30 p.m. in Room 315 at City Hall.
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We have seen drops in participation across both the 2000 and the 2010 census counts. Each drop means a loss of funding and representation for Royal Oak. Royal Oak is looking for volunteers to join the 2020 Complete Count Committee. The 2020 Complete Count Committee will distribute information and encourage Royal Oak residents to complete their 2020 census. Applications are available on the city’s website at royaloakmi.seamlessdocs.com/f/application.
The Downtown Development Authority will host a business owners meeting on Thursday, December 13 at 10 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church. They will introduce the DDA’s new social media manager, who will be helping downtown businesses with marketing. This is a free service to help get the word out about all the great things downtown Royal Oak has to offer. Business owners will also have the opportunity to discuss concerns, issues and policies that might help everyone do business in downtown Royal Oak. The gathering is free. RSVP.
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To share your news, announcements, and events, please email citynewseditor@localbiznews.net
If so, Acting Out Kids Community Theatre might be the perfect place for your child. They offer opportunities to participate in plays, murder mystery dinner theatre productions, films, YouTube shows, classes, workshops, camps, field trips, community events and social events. They are currently taking registration for classes starting in January. Check their website for class schedules. Classes need a minimum of 10 participants, and a minimum of 15 for the murder mystery dinner theatre production. For more information or to register, contact AOK at actingoutkids@yahoo.com.
The Senior Center afternoon movie on Thursday, December 20 at 12:45 p.m. will be “Ocean’s Eight” starring Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling and Helena Bonham Carter. This movie tells the story of Debbie Ocean, who gathers an all-female crew to attempt an impossible heist at New York City’s yearly Met Gala.
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Bring your mat or use a chair and join Marilyn Bird for a free basic yoga class on Monday, December 17, from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. This class is designed for all ages and skill levels and will teach you how to improve your flexibility, strength and balance through basic yoga poses and breathing techniques.
It will also explore ways to use the mind-body-breath connection to promote a deep sense of peacefulness and relaxation. Class size is limited. Call (248) 588-5500 for more information or to register.
Commemorative brick pavers add to the charm of Clawson sidewalks while they celebrate families, friends and important occasions. Honor someone you love for the holidays! These bricks last a lifetime, sharing your message with all who visit downtown Clawson. A donation of $80 buys a 5” x 9” custom brick paver engraved with a family name, a special date or message. Download the brick order form to bring or mail your order to Clawson City Hall, 425 N. Main, Clawson MI 48017 or fill out the online form.
If so, you can fill out an application to let the city know you’re interested in serving on one of the following boards and commissions:
To share your news, announcements, and events, please email citynewseditor@localbiznews.net
Reading aloud is a great way for new readers ages four and up to practice. And there’s no better audience than one of our canine friends. Come out to the library on one of their upcoming Paws to Read days in December:
Thursday, December 13: Paws to Read with Bentley from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Bentley is a Lab/Bernese Mountain Dog mix. He loves a good story!
Monday, December 17: Paws to Read with Reba from 5 to 6 p.m. Reba is a Fox Red Labrador Retriever certified by
Wednesday, December 19: Paws to Read with Massimo from 3 to 4 p.m. Massimo is a Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier. He’s a certified Canine Good Citizen by the American Kennel Club, and he’s hypoallergenic.
Reading slots are available on a first-come,
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The City of Troy has been recognized for its successes and efforts in contributing to Michigan’s entrepreneurial growth and economic development in the annual eCities study conducted by researchers at iLabs, University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Center for Innovation Research. Troy was honored as a
“The City of Troy is proud to be a participant in the eCities program and appreciates the University of Michigan Dearborn utilizing
The eCities study analyzed publicly available data from 277 communities from 54 Michigan counties. Researchers focused on the five-year changes in property values, community assets, and tax rates, which can demonstrate the growth, investments
“While accounting for only about 15 percent of the cities and townships in Michigan, the 277 communities analyzed are home to 70 percent of the population and 85 percent of the state’s commercial property,” said Tim Davis, director, iLabs. “By analyzing these high-performing communities, our goal is to showcase what cities and townships are doing to spur growth and how we can continue to support their efforts in developing business and encouraging entrepreneurs.”
The City of Troy was acknowledged at UM-Dearborn’s Executive Speaker Series panel discussion on Thursday, November 29.
The Troy Public Library has recently added several C-Pen Readers to the Universal Access collection, which is part of the Youth Services Department. This collection, which houses a variety of materials for those with differing abilities, as well as those who work with them, includes many other assistive learning tools.
C-Pen Readers are handheld devices that scan and read text out
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Troy Youth Assistance is now accepting nominations for recognition of elementary through high school-age youth who reside in Troy (or attend Troy schools as
Honorees will be recognized at the Annual Youth Recognition Awards event sponsored by Troy Youth Assistance on Wednesday, April 17,
The deadline for nominations is Friday, January 25, 2019. Visit Troy Youth Assistance or call the TYA office at (248) 823-5095 for more information.
Get unique gifts while supporting local organizations this holiday season. Shop at:
Creative Endeavors –The Community Center is the place for crafts handmade by Troy’s senior citizens. They are open Monday through Saturday, 10 am to 2 pm, and Tuesday and Wednesday from 5 to 9 pm. Call (248) 526-5145 for more information.
The Friends of the Troy Public Library Gift Shop and the Book Shop – Get gifts for your book-loving loved ones at the library. The Gift Shop is open Monday – Thursday, 12 to 6 p.m., Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 4 p.m. The Book Shop is open Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 4 p.m.
Troy Historic Village Store – The Village Store offers Michigan-made products, vintage toys, and unique stocking stuffers. Special discounts during the day. For more information, call (248) 524-3570. All proceeds benefit Village programs. The Village Store hours are Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
To share your news, announcements, and events, please email citynewseditor@localbiznews.net
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