Yellow Dog Marketplace — Local services in Springfield Charter Township

There’s a lot to be said about this place but I will give you just the highlights. When you drive up it is the cutest thing you’ve ever seen. From the outside stepping through the front door, you know you are coming into a special shop. If it wasn’t for my two bulldozer children who of course promptly knocked over a vase and broke it, I would’ve wanted to stay all day. There are so many neat things in this shop- not only made in Michigan, but just artisan and unique from around the country. I went there because I was on the hunt for a certain tea made by a Michigan company called Vine Tea, that hires people with disabilities. As an autism mama, supporting adults with disabilities is extremely important to me and I thought it would make a nice addition to my friends’s box of gifts that I was mailing out that weekend. I soon learned you can truly find a gift for anyone on your list in this special beautiful store. What was even more special is the shop owner. I was already having a terrible, stress-filled, time-crunched day and when my kids broke the vase, I just crumbled. You see, I was there picking out a gift to mail to my friend who was getting her results from her radiation that Monday. It was urgent that I ship her care package box out out that day. After the vase broke I just burst into tears because of everything that was going on and boy the owner was so incredibly kind and patient. 😭 Not only with my children who broke her merchandise, but also with me. Immediately she came around the counter and gave me the biggest hug. Her sweet gesture made me feel like I was hugging an angel and suddenly my stress completely melted away. I went there for Vine tea and left with that and so much more. My friend loved her box full of amazing gifts from The Yellow Dog and I’m happy to report her radiation results came back clear for no new growths. Please go to this store and buy all the things. What a gift this experience...

The store is cute. It is hard to navigate without bumping into someone and the layout is confusing, and count your blessings if you don’t read the sign on the door and trip and fall. The store seems like an old hens club where ladies go just to chit chat. There were a lot of ladies that like looked like they were working and chit chatting at the same time. No one stopped what they were doing to look in my direction when I walked in. I had to stand there for a long time while the ladies chit chatted before they stopped so I could ask a question. Maybe because I look younger they didn’t think I was a serious buyer. I won’t be back, but I bet old people...

You want unique and cool stuff in your life? Then this little shop is the place for you. Lots of local artisans show their stuff there, and you'll never see anything like it in most stores, shops, and boutiques. As soon as you hit the roadside parking, you know that this place is different- in a good way. You'll understand why when you do it yourself. Lol I tend to walk in, stop almost immediately, and just start gawking and gazing at everything from the floor to the ceiling. Cool stuff, and plan on spending at least a half hour or so the first time there- because there's just so much cool stuff to see...