A Unique Shop With Quality Items and other Houghton, MI Shopping Tips

Name of Shop: Einerlei

The Einerlei is located about seven miles from Houghton in the neighboring town of Chassell. This 4,500 square feet two story shop offers a variety of quality items. Feel free to browse at your own pace, you will never feel pressured to purchase anything. The Einerlei sells such things as locally made jewelry and art, greeting cards, kitchen items, a few items of clothing made of natural fibers, and gourmet foods. Flowers, wreaths, garden containers, and other items may be found on the first floor floral room. The kitchen area has gourmet cooking utensils, linens, specialty foods, and cookbooks. Climb the stairs and you will find a room with glassware, such as the wine glasses in my photo, and personal care products such as moisturizing lotion and soaps made with goats milk. In May through August you will find a greenhouse with fresh herbs, perennials, and annuals for your garden. In the summer and fall the Einerlei is open seven days a week. In the winter the shop is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 to 5:00 and closed on Sunday.

What To Buy: The photo shows two items that I have purchased. The moisturizing lotion is Canus LaitdeChevre Goat’s Milk. It isn’t milk to drink, it is a body lotion made with fresh goat’s milk. It is pricey for a lotion, but I have found it to be an excellent moisturizing skin lotion, and I like the smell. But beware, my husband does not like the odor at all, so be sure to smell before purchasing, what one person finds pleasant may not be to the liking of another.

What To Pay: If you are looking for bargain prices, the Einerlei is not for you. The items can be somewhat pricey, but the quality is very good.

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Theme: Other
Phone: (906) 523-4612
Address: 42021 Willson Memorial Drive, Chassell, MI 49916
Directions: The Einerlei is located on US-41 in downtown Chassell, about seven miles from Houghton.
Website: www.einerlei.com
Other Contact: shop@einerlei.com

Name of Shop: Down Wind Sports

Down Wind Sports is a small, U.P. shop that carries a variety of sporting accessories including snowshoes, snowboards, skis, kayaks, tents, camping gear, mountain bikes, and clothing.

This is also a place where you can have your bike tuned.

Down Wind Sports also sponsors events and clinics throughout the year. Check with the store to see what activities they may have scheduled.

They also have a number of items that you may rent, such as ice climbing boots and crampons, cross country skis, snowshoes, alpine skis, and mountain bikes. If you try out a sport, and enjoy it, a one-time rental fee can be applied to the purchase of new equipment.


What To Pay: This shop carries quality items such as Patagonia clothing, and quality sports equipment, so this is not a discount store. So unless there is a sale, expect to pay fairly high prices.

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Theme: Sporting Goods
Phone: 906-482-2500
Address: 308 Shelden Ave., Houghton, MI 49931
Directions: Located in the downtown area along Sheldon Avenue.
Website: http://www.downwindsports.com/index.html

Name of Shop: Surplus Outlet, Inc.

Although not a large shop, the Surplus Outlet has crammed a lot of items into it. They carry a selection of clothing such as Carhartt and Columbia Sportswear, camping supplies, souvenirs such as Upper Michigan t-shirts and sweatshirts, work boots and other footwear, socks, hats and caps, Leatherman tools, and other items. They also have an online store, so visit the web page below to check prices and see what items are available.



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Theme: Discount Store
Phone: 906-482-2550
Address: 200 Shelden Avenue, Houghton, MI 49931
Directions: In the downtown area.
Website: www.surplusoutlet.net

Name of Shop: Book World

Book World is a chain of bookstores found in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota. You will find a selection of both hardcover and paperback books for all age groups, as well as many different magazines. There are many categories of books to choose from. Some of these choices are bestsellers, fiction, nonfiction, art, biographies, health, cooking, computers, crafts, gardening, history, nature, photography, self-help, children’s picture books, and books for older children, as well as books about the Upper Peninsula.

There is also a small tobacco shop within the bookstore that carries such things as pipes, pipe tobacco, cigars, and smoking accessories such as fancy lighters.



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Theme: Books
Phone: 906-482-8192
Address: 515 Shelden Ave., Houghton, MI 49931
Directions: Book World is located in the downtown area.
Website: http://www.bookworldstores.com/houghton-mi.htm

Name of Shop: World Store

World Store is an International Food market that was started in 2005, and serves the many foreign students and professors who attend Michigan Technological University, as well as locals who enjoy Asian and Indian cuisine. Here you can find fresh produce, frozen items, and many canned, bottled, and package imported foods that you can purchase and take with you. Not only do we purchase a number of items through out the summer when we are residing here, but I also purchase a number of items to bring back home to Cody, such as Japanese Roasted Wasabi Coated Green peas, canned Maesri Thai curry pastes, bottled Lee Kum Kee Chinese sauces, and since we travel with a camper which has a small freezer, I also purchase frozen pot stickers and stuffed Bow Buns.

What To Buy: Lee Kum Kee makes a number of wonderful Chinese style sauces that come in glass bottles, and could be shipped home or taken with you if you are driving. We especially enjoy the Chili Garlic Sauce, Black Bean Garlic Sauce, and the Satay Sauce. If you enjoy curries, try cans of Maesri Curry pastes. We especially like the Red and Green Curry pastes. These can easily be put into a suitcase. If you like spicy treats, try the Wasabi Coated Peas. It is best to eat these one at a time, hot and crunchy, and easy to take with you. If you purchase the red or green curry paste, or the Lee Kum Kee sauces I mentioned, and you need a recipe to go with them, email me and I will send you one.


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Theme: Food and Drink
Phone: 906-482-1554
Address: 318 Shelden Ave, Houghton, MI 49931
Directions: In the downtown area of Houghton.