ADRIAN — There’s a little bit of everything at Sass Gift Shop, a downtown Adrian store that is currently celebrating its 10th year in business.
Customers who stop by the store at 114 E. Maumee St. can find a mix of gifts that include T-shirts, socks, mugs, jewelry, toys, novelty household goods, Michigan-made foods, and books by local authors.
And, yes, a little bit of sass as well.
The name is a reflection both of the store’s product lineup — quirky, often irreverent, and occasionally profane — and of owner Diane Rauser’s personality.
“It turns out that I really am sassy, and everybody knows it, and I don’t apologize for it,” she said.
Rauser has a good time keeping the store stocked with unique gift ideas, and it shows.
“It’s a fun job,” she said. “My husband thinks it’s my clubhouse.”
One major emphasis for Rauser is stocking made-in-Michigan products. Displays of Michigan-made food line the long west wall of the store, and Rauser said that’s really her bread and butter. Brands include Cherry Republic, Ferris Nut Co., and Sanders Candy.
“Most of the people that come in here will leave with something made in Michigan,” Rauser said.
Along the east wall is a display of books by Michigan authors, including mystery author J.L. Hyde, who Rauser said has developed a large Adrian following since Sass started carrying her books. Book lovers can also find mysteries by Tecumseh author Craig A. Brockman, local history books like Charles Lindquist’s “Adrian: The City that Worked,” and the memoirs of local veterinarian Howard Pennington.
Michigan, Lenawee County and Adrian-themed T-shirts are also a popular seller, and come winter, the World’s Softest Socks line is one of the store’s mainstays.
“I sold over 1,000 pairs one year,” Rauser said.
For a few Christmas seasons, Rauser experimented with running a pop-up store for men called The Men’s Room in another downtown Adrian storefront. That idea has now been incorporated into the main Sass store, with a section dedicated to gifts for men, including a variety of novelties and aprons with slogans like “Dude with the Food” and “Commander in Beef.”
Local artists have a place in the store, and there’s also a section of games — some for kids and some for adults, including offerings with offbeat titles like “Poop Bingo” and “Donner Dinner Party.”
Sass is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“I believe in being open seven days a week,” Rauser said.
Sass is at 114 E. Maumee St., Adrian. For information, call 517-266-6100 or go to sassgiftshop.com.
