This day started like any other, sun shining and birds chirping. We couldn’t wait to get on the road and make our way down Gratiot right to Roseville.
Our first stop of the day was Macomb Mall. We parked our car and made our way in. Now, with the popularity of online shopping rising, many malls have been forced to close. Unlike those places, this mall is thriving. With anchor stores like Kohls, Hobby Lobby, At Home, and Dick’s Sporting Goods, Macomb Mall is a one-stop shop for anything you may need. Of course we couldn’t leave without stopping at Auntie Anne's for some warm pretzel bites and ice cold lemonade.
We quickly devoured the pretzels and began making our way to Chester Boot Shop. This popular shop has been in business since 1948 and specializes in boots, shoes, hats, and apparel. If you haven’t been inside before, I highly recommend it. With great customer service, the employees are more than happy to help you try on some snazzy boots or a fun cowboy hat and find your perfect fit! There are so many options to choose from that you are almost guaranteed to find something you love.
Just a few doors down is Blast In The Past, movie and music store. Stepping into this shop felt like I was in a different universe. With hundreds of vinyls, CD’s and collectables we were ready to dive in and find our next listen, watch, or display. We looked through all different genres and artists and scanned the collectables thoroughly. At least a half an hour had gone by and we scanned every inch of the store. Finally ready to checkout, we placed a 4-1 movie set and 2 Star Wars collectables on the counter and had a lovely chat with the cashier. Excited to watch the new movies and show off the collectables, we were ready for the next stop. While walking to the car we were hit by a few stray raindrops, which were only a preview of what was to come …
Joe Randazzo’s Fruit & Vegetable Market was the next place on our list. Walking in, now with an umbrella in hand, the view was beautiful. The colorful fruits and vegetables were on full display and instantly made us want to dive in. Walking aisle by aisle we saw some of our favorite produce, and some we had never seen before. Who knew a rutabaga looked like that?!
Now having the knowledge of what a rutabaga looks like, we set off for the next destination. Driving up and down Gratiot the rain slowly started to pick up. While passing by Great Lakes Reptiles and Roseville Theater we decided it was time for lunch. Taking some side streets to see more of Roseville, we slowly headed to Chick-fil-A and this is when things got interesting. The sky got dark and it started to pour! We could barely see the road and were just trying to make it to lunch. Inside Chick-fil-A waiting for our orders while we’re soaking wet, everyone's phones went off with a tornado warning. We stayed inside and ate our food until the warning was over and decided to try and get back to the office. Driving through some flooded roads and traffic, we miraculously made it back safe and sound – and somehow missed a tornado!
With all the crazy weather aside, it was a great day out in Roseville. There is so much to offer that everyone will walk away happy. Spend a day in Roseville and do some shopping, find your favorite old CD, buy delicious produce and grab some filling food. Memories are made in Roseville, so get out there and enjoy!
Ella Hill is an intern for Macomb County Planning and Economic Development.
