Birdie's & Howell

Birdie’s & Howell is preparing for its third holiday season in downtown Hillsdale. The gift shop, known for its unique gift selections, also sells home decor, apparel, and much more.

Monique Sarles is the owner of Birdie’s & Howell and said she has just been blown away by how supportive the community has been of her endeavor since first starting it in 2021.

“We are so grateful for our community. I have been blown away by its support and am grateful,” Monique says. “I am excited going into our second full year knowing our community has been so supportive.”

Monique is in Birdie’s & Howell on a daily basis, which she says she loves. “If I’m not with my children or grandchildren, I’m at the store, typically six days a week.”

While Birdie’s & Howell is always looking to expand its selection, Monique said they’ve recently made a few special additions that she has really loved and is excited to share with her customers. “One we have taken on is called Dune,” she said. “It is jewelry that incorporates different natural elements like sand from the Great Lakes, semi-precious stones, etc. Another line is Happy Everything. It’s a fun gift line that is starting to take off in our store.”

In 2022, Birdie’s & Howell also launched custom framing, which Monique says has taken off nicely. “I’ve been amazed at how busy we are with framing,” she explains. Monique says customers are coming from as far as Adrian and Jackson to have their pieces framed. “We are honored that they trust us with their prized artwork.”

On November 9, Birdie’s & Howell will hold its much-anticipated annual Christmas Open House. “It’s a big event,” Monique says. “Lots of customers have already been asking questions about it.”

The Christmas Open House is a ticketed event with all the proceeds going to Love INC of Hillsdale County, a local nonprofit whose mission is to mobilize local churches to serve the community better.

“It is a fun night to welcome in the holiday season and help a great local nonprofit organization raise some funds,” Monique says. “We also have hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and live music.”

You can buy tickets for the Christmas Open House at Birdie’s & Howell. Monique encourages customers to buy the tickets early if they would like to attend. “There’s a limited supply of tickets, and last year, they sold out very quickly,” she says. “This year, we are hoping it will be the same.”

Birdie’s & Howell is located at 28 N. Howell St. Store hours are Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Its phone number is (517) 964-2473, and you can also follow them on Facebook at Birdie’s & Howell and Instagram at birdies_and_howell.