2025 Shop Local Holiday Incentive Program!

December 5, 2025 By Joe Pagano

🎄 Flat Rock DDA – New 2025 Shop Local Incentive Program! 🎄
The Flat Rock Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is excited to announce a NEW way to celebrate the holiday season while supporting our local businesses!

For 2025, the traditional Christmas Passport Program has been replaced with the Shop Local Incentive Program powered by Goosechase.com.

It’s fun, easy, and all done right from your phone!

⭐ How It Works

Use your phone to join the game, complete fun missions at your favorite Flat Rock businesses, and earn points toward FREE gift cards from local shops and restaurants.

The more missions you complete, the more prizes you can win!
Top participants will receive premium gift cards starting at $100.

📱 Three Easy Steps to Join

Scan the QR Code with your phone’s camera.
Download the Goosechase app and enter the JOIN CODE- LYQYFD
Sign up and start completing fun missions!

🗓 Dates

Start Anytime: Now through Friday, December 12, 2025
Prize Awards: Monday, December 15, 2025 at the City Council Meeting

🔗 Join the Game

Click here to get started or use QR Code below.

The Flat Rock Shop Hop’s Return this Summer

May 12, 2024 By Joe Pagano

NOTICE: Change of Location

The Flat Rock DDA and Flat Rock Our Hometown are bringing back the Downtown Flat Rock Shop Hop.

NOTICE: due to the closure of Gibraltar Road near Telegraph, the SHOP HOP and Sidewalk Sale has been moved to its previous location at East Huron River Drive and Church Streets only a few blocks east of Telegraph. The Shop Hop and Sidewalk Sale runs from 1PM to 7 PM with many businesses like Sugar Island Baking Company, BARE Aesthetics, Cardinal Quill Tattoo and others are conducting sidewalk sales. Some of these stores will also have pop-up vendors at their respective stores. Stop by Downtown Flat Rock for some great sales from these and other local businesses. Shop Local – Shop Flat Rock.

Come shop the streets of Downtown Flat Rock on the second Thursday in June, July and August. There will be local venders and artisans who will present their UNIQUE goods to you from 1-7pm.

You can also shop local eaters and bakeries along with other local shops to snag goodies and so much more!

The first shop hop of the season will be Thursday June 13^th! The next two will be Thursday July 11^th and August 8^th.

We will post more information as it comes available.

For vendors who would like to participate, CLICK HERE.

Contact Liz Hendley for more information at: EHendley@flatrockmi.org

SHOP LOCAL – SHOP FLAT ROCK

2023 Events Continue with Family Fun Events in Flat Rock

April 26, 2023 By Joe Pagano

This year’s calendar in Flat Rock is Full of Family Fun Events in Downtown and beyond. Starting in May at the Community Center, Flat Rock Our Hometown along with the Flat Rock DDA are presenting a Business Expo featuring our Brick and Moter business in Flat Rock and adjoining communities. The Expo starts at Noon on May 18th and goes until 3PM. The event is FREE and open to all. There will be food and food sampling along with retail businesses giveaways at the community center. For a list of businesses attending stop by the Flat Rock Our Hometown or Downtown Flat Rock facebook pages for the latest listings.

Next is 10th Annual “Chalk The Walk at HuRoc Park” on Saturday June 3rd. This year’s event is scheduled from 11AM to 1PM. We invite artist of all ages to show their skills on the 3/4 mile walk around the park. Chalk is and refreshments are provided to the little ones.

June continues with “Concert in the Park Series” June 8th starts with the Flat Rockers starting at 6:30pm and the second on June 22nd also featuring M125 also starting at 6:30pm. The Concert in the Park Series is at the Gazebo in HuRoc Park.

New this year is our Food Truck Rally and Artisan Show at the Flat Rock Plaza (old K-Mart Plaza). The event will take place on July 15th from Noon to 8pm. There will be food along with plenty of specialty venders. NOTE: if you are interested in becoming a vender at this show, Click Here. The plaza is big and there is still spaces available.

That is only a partial list of events, below is the entire list of events for Flat Rock in 2023.

Flat Rock Christmas Passport Program Card for 2022.

October 31, 2022 By Joe Pagano

Flat Rock Our Hometown along with the Flat Rock DDA are once again presenting the Flat Rock Christmas Passport Program.

We are once again using the Passport Punch Cards system.

Program Information.

You will get a passport business card from any participating Flat Rock Businesses. Each card has 6 places in which to punch.
All Flat Rock participating businesses will have a card display near the cashier where you can take a card and receive a card punch.
Each Passport card is be coated so you can easily clean them.
The card will remain in your hand while the business punches it with their unique punch.
The program has started for 2022 and end on December 16, 2022.

Note; many stores already have their kits and may ask you if you would like to participate.

Flat Rock Passport Customer Rules and information.

Look for the Flat Rock Our Hometown clock decal at local businesses.
A full list of participating businesses is available on the Flat Rock Our Hometown Facebook page and on this site soon.
Visit local participating Flat Rock businesses and complete the punches on the passport card.
You must have punches from at least three (3) different businesses punches on each passport card (i.e. you can get up to three (3) stamps from one business, but the other three (3) must be different participating businesses.
Remember that 6 different punches will get you into the SPECIAL Grand Prize drawing for a basket filled with gifts from ALL participating businesses!
You get bonus stamps on Small Business Saturday weekend and Winterfest weekend.
Fill out your name, address and phone number on the passport card and drop in the box at City Hall for a chance to win your prize.
Passports Cards MUST be submitted to City Hall by December 16, 2022, by 12 NOON.
Customers can start another passport card for more chances to win. You can fill out more than one card but can only ONE prize per person.
The new passport cards can be picked up at any participating store or at city hall, the community center or the local library.
The drawings will be held on December 16, 2022 and awarded at the City Council meeting on December 19, 2022.

NOTE; You are NOT required to be present for the drawing, but we ask that you plan to attend the City Council meeting if you are a winner. The City Council meeting for the drawing will be at 7:30p.m. on December 19, 2022

Prizes;

First – $500, – Second $250, Third – $100 in Flat Rock Dollars.

**The Grand Prize is a Basket with something from every participating business.**

Check back soon for the updated participating business listing.

Abby’s Mutt Hut – 26464 W. Huron River Drive

Adolph’s Auto Repair and Towing – 28299 Telegraph Rd.

Atwater Street Taco – 26425 Atwater St.

Bashar’s Cuisine – 27103 Telegraph Rd.

Biggby Coffee Flat Rock – 26614 Telegraph Rd.

Blue Heron Trading Company – 26217 E. Huron River Drive

Convenient auto care – 28810 Telegraph Rd

Expo Nails – 26606 Telegraph Rd.

Fellows and Co. Auto Repair – 27512 Telegraph

Flat Rock Community Center – 1 Maguire St.

Flat Rock Animal Clinic – 27116 Telegraph

Flat Rock Krzyske Brothers Hardware – 26329 E. Huron River Drive

Hair Classics – 26664 Telegraph Rd.

Instinct Salon – 27250 Telegraph Rd.

Jim’s Butcher Shop – 28418 Telegraph

Lather Barbershop – 26854 Telegraph

Lefty’s Cheesesteaks – 27026 Telegraph

Marlo’s Cutting Crew – 25658 E. Huron River Dr.

Masserant’s Feed & Grain – 27550 Telegraph

Michaels on the River – 28828 Telegraph

Mimi’s Pizza – 26902 Telegraph

My Salon – 26080 E. Huron River Drive

Pet Needs, Etc. – 28325 Telegraph

Public Service Credit Union – 26121 Vreeland Rd.

Royal Shirtery – 23981 Vreeland Rd.

Sherry’s Academy of Dance, 27369 Telegraph

Shagg’s Salon – 26317 Gibraltar Rd.

S & J’s CupCakery – 26314 E. Huron River Drive

Southern Scentsations – 27419 Telegraph Rd.

Station 24 – 28801 Telegraph Rd.

Strands of Hair – 26318 E. Huron River Dr.

Sugar Island Baking Company – 28773 Telegraph Rd.

Tom’s Collision – 26813 Telegraph Rd.

Wize Guys Bistro – 26123 E. Huron River Drive

If your Flat Rock Business is interested in participating in the Flat Rock Christmas Passport Program – Click Here.

Strands of Hair Salon Celebrates 25 Years

March 3, 2022 By Joe Pagano

Happy 25th Birthday to Flat Rock’s Strands of Hair Salon!

Ginny Sims opened her first location on Grosse Ile in 1979. After a few years, she moved Strands to Riverview where her daughter, Shayla Hopper, joined her. March 1, 1997 marks the day that Ginny opened the current location in one of the oldest buildings in Flat Rock at 26318 E Huron River Drive. Ginny fell in love with the historic building as well as the friendly community.

Having been home to various beauty salons and barbershops since the early 1900s, this charming building was a natural fit for Ginny, who cherished both the beauty and history of the structure. Ginny has always trained her staff to treat every customer with respect and make sure they feel and look great when they leave. Satisfied customers are the keystone of Strands. The standards and traditions that Ginny established are continued today under the ownership of her daughter, Shayla. While admittedly biased, Shayla said “ I have never met anyone who has cared more about her staff and clients than my mom. I have been in this business for 28 years and know she is unique.”

Ginny has been active in the community and, seeing a need for more activities for children in the town, started the Spooktacular, a neighborhood Halloween party opened to the community. It has grown to include more local businesses over the years and is now one of Flat Rock Our Hometown’s signature events. Shayla has continued that commitment to the community as a co-leader of Flat Rock Our Hometown, creating and presenting events in the downtown to promote and highlight local businesses.

The building was recently restored to its original historic design from the late 1800s. Shayla said “The building’s history has influenced us and we hope to live up to that history while maintaining our own originality”

Currently, Strands of Hair has a team of very talented hairstylists with individual specialties. Shayla, the owner and stylist, specializes in color, specialty cuts, and precision cuts. Renae, who has been with Strands for 12 years, specializes in clipper cuts and razor cuts. Melanie, who started as an apprentice 5 years ago, is talented and has a wealth of knowledge on cosmetics, as she is pursuing a degree in Pharmaceutical Cosmetic Formulation. She can answer questions about hair related chemistry and helps with strong product knowledge. June has been part of our team since 2019 and is exceptional with balayage and all blonding color. She strives to achieve exactly what her clients want.

For all who have been customers over the past 25 years, we thank you and look forward to our next 25 years.