’Tis the season to give and be thankful. Show your friends and family how much you appreciate them with a gift that supports local business. Whether picking out something at a local shop or treating your friend to the flexibility of a gift card, you’ll find exactly what you need at these local businesses.
The Adams Street Cafe
608 Adams St. | 419-241-1819 | theadamsstcafe.com 7am-4pm Monday-Friday.
With a cozy atmosphere and a wide range of menu options, The Adams Street Cafe provides a downtown eating experience your foodie friends will certainly appreciate. From lighter fare, like their salmon and spinach salad, to the heavier comfort food we all appreciate during the winter months (the chicken and waffles are a must, and the pepper jack bacon burger is equally amazing), a gift card from this popular joint is always a crowd pleaser.
Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano
1320 Levis Commons Blvd., Perrysburg 419-872-6100 | biaggis.com 11:30am-9pm Sunday-Thursday. 11:30am-10pm Friday and Saturday.
Treat your friend to classic Italian cuisine at Biaggi’s, a fine-dining experience they won’t soon forget. Biaggi’s has a well-rounded wine selection, craft cocktails, pastas, pizzas, and options for everyone in the family. Some of their most popular items include the lobster corn chowder as a starter, the grilled panini sandwiches for lunch, and their pork chops sauteed in parmesan gorgonzola butter. This gift is a deal for you too! Available through December 31, for every $100 in gift cards purchased, you’ll receive a $15 holiday bonus awards card. From seafood to steaks to kid-friendly entrees, Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano has what you’re craving.
Diamond’s Men’s Shop
1564 Spring Meadows Dr., Holland. 419-865-1211 | diamondsmensshop.com 10am-7pm Monday-Friday. 10am-6pm Saturday | 12pm-5pm Sunday.
Have a fashion-forward fella in your life? The selection at Diamond’s Men’s Shop offers the latest trends in high-end formal and casual menswear at an affordable price. Their colognes, suits, coats, dress hats, and shoes come in a variety of sizes and styles, making it easy to put together a unique, on-trend look. You can also pick up a gift card so your friend or significant other can enjoy the shopping experience himself.
Encore Books
4400 Heatherdowns Blvd. | 419-389-1155. Search Encore on Facebook for more details. 10am-6pm Sunday-Saturday.
What more personal gift is there than a well-chosen book? Encore Books offers used books in excellent condition and the owner offers personalized customer service. The store has the kind of meandering rooms filled to bursting with reading material that will keep your bibliophile friend browsing for hours if they receive a gift card, or you can pick out a whole series for them to enjoy over the holidays.
Expresso Car Wash
419-389-1155 | Find their six locations at expressocarwash.com. 8am-7pm Monday-Saturday | 9am-6pm Sunday.
During all the craziness of holiday cooking and party planning, it’s easy to forget something like making sure your car is clean. Surprise your loved one by taking their car to Expresso Car Wash, where they can get their car detailed, a full-service wash, and an oil change. Expresso is also offering holiday specials through December 31, including any six washes for the price of four, 20% off for vets and active duty military, and 10% off a yearly pass.
Georgjz419
1205 Adams St. | 419-842-4477 | georgjz419.business.site 4pm-2:30am Monday-Saturday. 1pm-12:30am Sunday.
One of the hottest nightlife scenes in downtown Toledo, Georgjz419 has a beautiful patio, fabulous drag shows, and affordable libations. Take a friend for a night out on the town to unwind post-holiday to dance off all the calories you’ve consumed! Then you’ll want to eat a slice or two of Georgjz specialty pizzas. One of the best nights to go is Thirsty Thursday, when you can get a $5 pizza, Miller Lite for $2, and Long Islands for $5.
The Original Gino’s Pizza
Check originalginos.com for hours and contact information for six locations.
All we want for Christmas is Gino’s! Sometimes the perfect gift is giving the person you love a gift certificate for a hot pizza, ready for pick-up. The Original Gino’s Pizza offers club sandwiches, pasta and all kinds of creative pizza toppings but you just can’t beat their pepperoni. Sweet, tangy tomato sauce and heavy layer of cheese that gets crispy at the crust edges, covering generously distributed pepperoni slices…well you can’t beat that holiday gift! Buy a gift certificate at a store location or online.
ICA Beautiful You
4405 N. Holland Sylvania Rd. 567-408-7408 | icaesthetics.com 9am-5pm Monday-Friday.
We could all stand to give ourselves a little TLC. What better way to do that than to treat ourselves to an appointment at ICA Beautiful You, where you can get laser hair removal treatments, skin rejuvenation, and dermal fillers to boost your confidence in the new year. Have a friend who has been meaning to get one of these treatments? Contact ICA Beautiful You to purchase a gift certificate today.
Harold Jaffe Jewelers
4211 Talmadge Rd. | 419-472-4480 | Haroldjaffe.com 10am-7pm Monday and Thursday. 10am-6pm Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 10am-5pm Saturday.
Whether you are giving the ultimate gift to your significant other with a holiday engagement ring, or you simply want to find someone you love a gorgeous, high-quality piece, Harold Jaffe Jewelers offers a one-of-a-kind shopping experience. A family owned business serving Toledo for 70 years, Harold Jaffe is the kind of place where they serve you coffee and show you around the showroom personally. Find your special someone a ring, necklace, or watch that they will treasure.
Mancy’s Bottle Shop
5453 Monroe St. | 419-824-2463 | mancys.com/#bottleshop 4pm-8pm Sunday. 11am-8pm Monday-Thursday. 11am-9pm Friday-Saturday.
Have a friend who is always looking to try the newest craft beer or fine wine? A gift card to Mancy’s Bottle Shop will check all the boxes. With their events, specials, and excellent selection of artisanal beer and wine, the Bottle Shop is the perfect place to hang out, enjoy tastings, and relax during the holidays. Of course, if you know your friend’s favorite bottle of wine or beer, pop into the shop for a gift selection that is sure to please. Hey, maybe your friend will even share some with you.
Jensen Jewelers
4481 Monroe St. | 419-471-1000 | jensenjewelers.net 9am-5:30pm Monday-Wednesday. 9am-6:30pm Thursday. 9am-4:30pm Friday. 9am-1pm Saturday.
For three generations, Jensen Jewelers has been providing jewelry repair and quality pieces that you can design yourself. Using their CAD/CAM system, sit down with one of their professional jewelry designers to create a unique gift for the special someone in your life. Jensen also carries necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, and more by the Allison-Kaufman Company. Your lucky loved one can go on a shopping spree! Through December 20, Jensen will collecting food donations for the Toledo Food bank and anyone who brings a donation can purchase a $50 gift card for $35.
Mi Hacienda Mexican Restaurant
3302 Glanzman Rd. | 429-380-0411 11am-10pm Monday-Thursday. 11am-11pm Friday. 12pm-11pm Saturday. 10:30am-9pm Sunday.
No one wants to cook after the holidays. Give the gift of a delicious meal to a cook who has been working hard throughout all those family get-togethers. Mi Hacienda has crispy chicken chimichangas and fresh chips and salsa that you can’t stop reaching for. Their customer service and authentic Mexican cuisine is what has kept their regulars coming back for years. Call the restaurant to buy a gift card, or join your friend at the restaurant for a fun meal. Did we mention they have margaritas and sangria?
Registry Bistro
144 N. Superior St. | 419-725-0444 | registrybistro.com 4pm-9:30pmTuesday-Friday
Registry Bistro co-owner and chef Erika Rapp adds international combinations to regional American cuisine with a particular focus on what is seasonal in the Toledo area. Menu items like the bucatini carbonara with applewood smoked pork belly and their cocktail hour Nibbles & Nosh (4pm-6pm Tuesday-Thursday) are some of our favorite things about this fine dining experience. Call to have a gift card mailed to your foodie friend or family member, or pick it up on location.
Toledo Symphony Orchestra
419-246-8000 | Toledosymphony.com
From collaborations with Queen Latifah (Saturday, February 16, 2019) to the Toledo Ballet, including their 78th annual Nutcracker (Saturday, December 8 and Sunday, December 9), the TSO consistently makes classical music feel new, exciting and contemporary. Bring the beauty of the Orchestra to your musically-minded friend with tickets to an upcoming performance or a subscription to one of the TSO’s eight different themed series. Now in their 75th season, an experience with this treasured Toledo staple is the perfect way to celebrate the holidays.
Rosie’s Italian Grille
606 N. McCord Rd. | 419-866-5007 | Rosiesitaliangrille.com 11:30am-9pm, Monday-Thursday & Sunday. 11:30am-10:30pm, Friday-Saturday.
Nothing says “take a load off, you deserve it” like gifting a loved one a beautiful night out at one of Toledo’s favorite restaurants. Settle into this Tuscan-style restaurant for fine wine and pleasing Italian dishes, ranging from traditional to contemporary. Clue them in to weekly specials— including 10 ounces of perfectly-cooked prime rib with a side for only $17.99 on Thursdays, and $5-$10 off select bottles of wine on Wednesdays— to help the recipient make the most of their gift card.
Nice Cloud Vapor
3332 W. Laskey Rd. & 5318 Heatherdowns Blvd. 419-481-8151 | nicecloudvapor.com
Have a friend who might want to puff clouds of Bananas Foster, soak up the cool island vibes of Pina Colada, or experiment with blue raspberry slush-flavored vapor? Find aromatic, flavorful and bold blends of e-juice at this locally owned vaping shop. Since 2013, Nice Cloud has been making “Fresh juice taste better” by providing Toledoans the best of vaping with premium vaping accessories and more than 80 house-made e-juice flavors. Find tobacco tastes, tea-inspired spices, and candy-flavored, fruity blends perfect for the vape-lover in your life at the only e-juice manufacturer in Toledo registered with the FDA.
Ventura’s Mexican Restaurant
7742 W. Bancroft St. | 419-841-7523 | toledostripletreat.com/ventura
Toast Feliz Navidad with friends and family while enjoying Toledo’s
favorite margaritas at this relaxed, friendly Mexican restaurant. In 1984, Ventura’s established itself as a neighborhood staple and has maintained good cheer and quality family recipes ever since. For the perfect way to enjoy the holidays, treat your loved ones to a hearty meal or offer up a gift card to this favored locale.
Zaza Wood-Fired Pizza & Mediterranean Cuisine
3550 Executive Pkwy
Some people like pizza, some people love pizza, and others are true connoisseurs. Give a slice of authentic, fresh and delightfully-crispy wood-fired pizza by presenting your favorite pizza-lover with a $50 gift card to Zaza’s for only $40. Not only will they get to pick up perfectly-prepped pies— made with premium and unexpected ingredients like grilled eggplant, roasted zucchini, eggs, brie, and more— but they can also sink their teeth into savory, healthy Mediterranean cuisine, like grape leaves, gyros, chicken shawarma, and other favorites.
Firenation Glass Studio and Gallery
7166 Front St., Holland | 419-866-6288 | Firenation.com
Looking for that perfect hard-to-buy-for gift? Come on in to Firenation Glass Studio and Gallery for a handmade glass Snowman! Team spirit hats for the sports fan in your family, or a Mohawk for that rockstar friend. Holiday shopping made local!
Mancys.com
MancyPhillips Ave
Mancy’s Italian Grill:
5453 Monroe St., 419-882-9229. 11am-10pm,
Monday-Thursday.
11am-11pm, Friday. 4-11pm, Saturday.
4-9pm, Sunday.
Bottle Shop at Mancy’s Italian:
5453 Monroe St.,
419-824-2463. 11am-8pm, Monday-Thursday.
11am-9pm, Friday-Saturday. Noon-6pm, Sunday.
Shorty’s True American Roadhouse:
5111 Monroe St., 419-841-9505.
11am-9:30pm, Monday-Thursday.
11am-10:30pm, Friday-Saturday.
11am-9pm, Sunday.
Bluewater Grille: 461 W. Dussel Dr., Maumee.
419-724-2583. 11am-10pm, Monday-Thursday.
11am-11pm, Friday. 4-11pm, Saturday.
4-9pm, Sunday.
The Ideal: 5333 Monroe St., 419-841-0066. 4-10pm,
Monday-Thursday. 4-11pm, Friday. 10am-11pm,
Saturday. 10am-9pm, Sunday.
This family of restaurateurs know a thing or two when it comes to bringing together good food and great company. Consider picking up a gift card to Mancy’s Restaurants so the foodie in your life can choose their own adventure. Whether they want classic, family favorites from The Steakhouse, Mancy’s Italian Grill or Bluewater Grille, something a little different at the more recently-opened Mancy’s Ideal, slow-smoked BBQ at Shorty’s, or something to wash it all down from the Bottle Shop, this gift card is a fast-pass to a myriad of delicious options.
Schmucker’s Restaurant
2103 N. Reynolds Rd. | 419-535-9116 | Schmuckers.com
For the person on your list who never turns down dessert, a pie (or three) from Schmucker’s is the perfect way to tell them that you think they’re as sweet as, well, pie. With more than 20 varieties of homemade pies— ranging from traditional fruit pies to decadent options, like Chocolate Peanut Butter— this family-owned and operated diner has proved themselves as a Toledo tradition since first opening in 1948. If you want to bring a Schmucker’s pie to a holiday gathering, make sure to order now.
La Scola Italian Grill
5375 Airport Hwy. | 419-381-2100 | lascolaitaliangrill.com
With the cold weather and the busy holiday season, take a break from entertaining and warm up with homestyle cooking at La Scola Italian Grill. With more than seven decades of combined food service experience in Toledo, owners Gus Nicolaidis and Moussa Salloukh bring traditional meals, first made in their family homes, to your table. Offer your loved ones the legacy of care and food with a gift card to this elegant, cozy and upscale Italian restaurant.
Learning Express Toys
Sylvania: 5577 Monroe St., 419-885-3959. Maumee: 3100 Main St., 419-878-2446. Learningexpress.com
Unsure what the hottest toy of the season is? Don’t worry about it. The professionals at Learning Express have done the research. Here’s a few of their favorite toys under $50:
Dimpl – Little hands will enjoy popping the colorful silicone bubbles back and forth with this satisfying sensory toy. With safe, durable construction, this toy is great for keeping baby entertained in the car, in the highchair or anytime. 6 months +, $12.99
Square Panda – Feel less guilty about screen time by turning it into reading time using your tablet (connect via Bluetooth) to play 10 interactive word games using 45 tactile Smart Letters. Children pick up and put letters in a tray to practice spelling, phonics, rhyming and more. Square Panda adapts to your child’s level. 2+years, $49.99
Auto Moto Transforming Robot Car – This 2-in-1 transforming toy changes shapes right before your eyes! It starts out as a sleek, RC sports car but say “transform” and your voice commands i to smoothly change into an upright robot that walks, spins and stomps all over the room. Ages 8+, $44.99
Serenity Health & Wellness Center
1685 Lance Pt. Rd., Maumee | 419-891-2181 | serenityspamaumee.com
With yoga, life coaching, sound therapy, eyelash and eyebrow services, body scrubs and wraps, waxing services, retreats, infrared sauna treatments, counseling, and more, offered at Serenity, there are plenty of options available for the person in your life who needs to destress. Consider picking up a Holiday Gift Basket, which includes a salt lamp, a Serenity mug, a vanilla bath soak, a scent sachet, Pirouline wafers, peppermint aromatherapy oil, assorted farmhouse fresh samples, and a collagen eye or lip mask, for $49. See more packages online for additional deals.
Sunika
5689 Main St., downtown Sylvania. 419-779-4899 | Sunikasneakers.com
Get a gift that speaks to the heart and sole of sneaker enthusiasts with on point footwear from this boutique sneaker and streetwear shop. Find known names, like New Balance, Puma, Reebok, Champion EU, and Adidas, as well as lesser-known brands with cult followings, like 10 Deep, Asics, Chinatown Market, Mitchell & Ness, Saucony, and Staple. Everything is hand-selected to be hypebeast-worthy, sure to impress any of your giftee’s Instagram followers.
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
428 N. Erie St. | 419-243-4214 | Stpaulstoledo.org
Not all gifts need to be commodities— often, just simply spending time with a loved one is the best present of all. Consider a visit to the Heart Gallery and Studios, located inside St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, for an illuminating activity. Enjoy monthly art exhibits and special events, like the Santa Lucia Tea ($25 per person, December 7-8), the Nativity Festival (December 16-22 free), cooking classes with Diane Rogers, or weekly SOUPER Thursdays with lunch and speakers on a variety of topics. For more information and offerings, call the St. Paul’s Church office at 419-243-4214 or check the website heartgalleryandstudios.com.
