This boutique is super cute with lots of unique gifts and fun items. I loved all of the food themed items like ravioli candles, olive candles, a bread lamp, and hair clips. I also saw a lot of Baggu items, which is a brand that I really like. Lots of stuff I hadn't seen in person before, like the teeny tiny backpacks. They also had a lot of local art, jewelry, cards, candles, and more. It's a great spot for finding a gift for yourself or your favorite gal pals! Unfortunately I was not greeted when I came in nor when I was browsing, which I feel is such a small thing that can really make a difference when shopping. The person at the counter was with another customer, but even just a quick, "hi, welcome in!" can be so nice. That said, I would come back in the future just to check out what they have in stock. read more

See all

Another place that I can't believe I haven't written a review for yet. I absolutely love this store and it's one of my favorite small businesses in Ann Arbor! Located in Kerrytown across the street from Detroit Street Filling Station, this woman-owned business is stocked full of so many unique and thoughtfully curated and sourced items. You want to come here for all the most unique and gorgeous looking goodies to gift to yourself and your loved ones and make sure to stop by often as they have a rotating selection of goodies throughout the seasons and months as well! They always have gorgeous window displays, the employees are always so happy to see you and the service is wonderful, and this shop is just so dreamy! Things are definitely on the pricey side here, but everything is really high quality and they feature a ton of local artisans in the area as well. There's nothing I love more than an intentional shop and you can truly feel how intentional Thistle & Bess is in every detail their store contains. Absolutely lovely and always worth a peruse whenever you find yourself in the Ann Arbor area! read more

See all

An Ann Arbor woman-owned small business gem! Not only is this a beautiful store for truly unique fine jewelry and curated home goods, but the owner's a lovely person and great community member. She thoughtfully sources items that heavily lean towards small business owned, woman owned, handmade, artisan. Everything really feels like it was picked out to not only spark joy but to contribute positively with our purchases. I have purchased so many things that I absolutely love from here over the years (from cards/paper goods to scarves/gloves/slippers to art to candles to funky ornaments etc) and so many gifts for friends/family too. It's one of my go-to spots for gifts, especially around the holidays. They also do really fun themed window displays each year for the holidays and I always love to check those out! Some of their items can be expensive, but they do have options at different price points, and personally the premium is worth it to me knowing how thoughtful Thistle & Bess is in their sourcing and curation. I don't own any of their own line of fine jewelry (yet), but will say that I've loved following the stories of each piece as it comes out. They are all really special! They have online shopping on their website as well. read more

Thistle & Bess - Holiday Window 2023 Theme - Eat, Drink, and Be Merry - Jewelry Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

See all

Cute and unique stuff, well-curated. All the candles actually smell really good; there's a cute shop dog. A joy to look around in.

Lovely lovely shop perfect for gifting for a loved one (or buying yourself a little treat, as I am inclined to do). They carry really lovely and unique jewelry, papery goods like cards and journals, home decor like candles and throw pillows, plus textiles, artwork, techy stuff (cool phone cases), and even lovely goodies for kids and babies. The store itself is decorated so so wonderfully (that library wallpaper behind the cash register is so awesome) and the owner, Diana, is as sweet and helpful as can be. She's got a great eye so the stock is fantastic and she's incredibly helpful when picking out a gift or the like. Extra bonus? They hold workshops here as well! I recently took the Creative Hand Lettering course hosted by Kristen from Worthwhile Paper. Other great classes they've offered include flower crowns, living (think succulent) jewelry, terrarium building, and cocktail mixing classes. All hosted by really incredible local businesses like the florists Passionflower and Two James Spirits. A really fantastic store not just providing a great shopping exprerience but an outstanding outlet for learning as well! read more

Thistle & Bess - They host awesome workshops like this delightful creative hand lettering class. - Jewelry Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

See all

Thistle and Bess is a fantastic addition to Kerrytowns' appeal. Apparently, the name of the store comes from the owner's cultural background ('thistle' for the Scottish side and 'bess' for the English). Keeping it quaint and cute, it's a place that both kids and grownups can enjoy (so bring the whole family!). For the youngsters, you can find some sought after books like, 'Flora and the Flamingo'. There are also lots of little trinkets and tchotchkes that are sort of hard to resist...., For adults, there are vintage charms which are so rare that chances are, you haven't seen anything like it. My favorite are the rare book locket necklaces with real words and photos. Popularized in the 1950s, these lockets are difficult to find now so it's a treat to see them in such good condition. There is paid parking across the street but it's free of charge on Sundays. read more

See all

Love this store! Diana has an incredible eye, filling her adorable shop with lots of great treasures and providing great service. Never miss the chance to stop in whenever I'm in Kerrytown. read more

Honestly always wanted to come in here and it's a cute shoe I guess but the customer service is bad. They act like they're too cool for you and really rude about the hand sanitizer they require you to use. Which isn't automatic. I wouldn't have touched anything anyway bc it's how I'm staying clean but now that I was forced to use their disgusting sanitizer I feel like I have to wash my hands. Rude ass read more

Thistle & Bess - Jewelry Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

This is my favorite new store in Ann Arbor! Diana, the owner, is the absolute sweetest, and her puppies are just as great. Everything she chooses for the store is curated perfectly, I am so partial to the perfumes and candles! A definite stop anytime you are in Kerrytown. read more

Thistle and Bess fits right in with the atmosphere of downtown Ann Arbor. The store has an excellent selection, while I was there I was impressed by their charms, candles, and adorable dogs. In addition, they have fantastic butterfly prints. Walking out, the most impressive aspect was certainly the helpfulness and kindness of the store owner. When asking for advice I never felt pressured for time or to buy anything. This quality might seem necessary for a store such as this, and it most definitely is. The problem is that in today's culture it is becoming increasingly more rare, thus I felt it deserved special recognition. If you're in Ann Arbor, sure to stop by for quick visit, even if you only have time to window shop. read more

Absolutely obsessed with this store. It's full of cute, quirky gifts, home decor, and jewelry. It's colorful and inviting on the inside, and the owner is super nice. Seriously check it out whenever you're in Kerrytown. read more

Found this cute place on Yelp recently and decided to stop in. It's a fairly small gift store that is a bit feminine with some vintage and contemporary elements. The product assortment is about average, but the price points are a little higher than similar stores I've come across (except Anthropologie). They have a small section of children's but it's mostly paper products, home decor, and body care geared towards women. My boyfriend did find a few things he liked, but it was definitely more girly and interesting for be! read more

I cannot say enough good things about Diana and her store, Thistle and Bess! I came in just to browse and was blown away by her jewelry selection. I was looking for a ring to buy for myself. I am currently going through a divorce so I was looking for a beautiful piece that would symbolize empowerment and beauty so when this process is tough, I could look at it and feel uplifted and inspired. I chose one and went home and it didn't feel quite right. So I went back in and Diana happily exchanged it and helped me find my perfect ring! She custom ordered a sapphire ring from Montreal jewelry designer Sofia Zakia, kept in contact with me along the way and sent me the most gorgeous, stunning ring as soon as it was made! I loved supporting Diana and Sofia and I adore my ring! If you live in Ann Arbor or are visiting and want to see some of the most beautiful rings in the city, or likely the state, stop by Thistle and Bess! read more