They were making a day of it. Then, they went next door to Grunwald's House of Fudge, where the scent of cocoa is overpowering and chocolate-covered potato chips are a hot seller. A holiday shopping trip to Plymouth is a tradition for the Petteyses, who always begin the day with a corned beef sandwich at Maya's Deli on Forest Avenue. At left is a 3D portrait of himself. Though national chains are reporting slower sales this season, many of Plymouth's merchants see things another way.
People come here to get the hometown flavor.
A 3-D portrait of Smith sits in a frame on the counter. Michigan Made Inc. on Ann Arbor Trail, a cozy store filled with such Michigania as dried cherries, Petoskey stone jewelry and wooden lighthouses, has been busy, too, said owner Sandy Marulis. Conveniently, there was a stack of them on the counter. And at Grunwald's House of Fudge, employees were happily coping with the traditional glut of last-minute shoppers. Like many Plymouth merchants, Picard has mixed feelings about the fact that Christmas Eve is on a Sunday, when Plymouth stores are usually closed.