Downtown

What You Didn’t Know About Downtown Hillsdale

You already know the popular downtown shops for a cup of joe, a scoop of ice cream, or a mid-week break from studying. Here are the lesser-known sides to five of your favorite Hillsdale haunts.

Jilly Beans

Jilly Beans

2 North Howell Street

Specializes in coffee, backed goods, lunches, & speciality drinks

Just for college students: Jilly Beans offers a relaxing atmosphere and comfy couches perfect for studying.

What you didn’t know: Jilly Beans is big on community. A board out front advertises Hillsdale community events minus the hassle of manager approval.

Barista and Hillsdale College sophomore Susena Finegan’s favorite drink: the chocolatey, nutty White Rabbit

#1 selling item: regular mochas and Americanos for the strong coffee drinkers

Susena on Jilly Beans: “This place is more Christian-based—it’s not a huge thing that we point out—but because it’s more Christian-based, even the coworkers can give support. As a student, I definitely felt that here.”

Toasted Mud

Toasted Mud

 

74 North Howell Street

A paint-your-own pottery studio

Just for college students: A bunch of college friends qualifies for the group discount.

What you didn’t know: Toasted Mud posts new events every month on their street-side board and Facebook page.

Employee favorite: “When I was in high school, I would skip school and come here to Toasted Mud. I’d listen to music, put on headphones and jam, and get lost in the rustic feel. For a small town like Hillsdale, it’s great to have a place to get lost in.”

Volume One: Book, Art, and Spiritual Center of Hillsdale

Volume 1

98 North Broad Street

A community center for bookworms

Just for college students: Check out Volume 1’s collection of classics, poetry, and philosophy.

What you didn’t know: Volume 1 hosts karaoke nights!

Book backstory: Volume 1 trades books, gives out books on credit, and accepts book donations. They also hunt books down at events like rummage sales.

Customer favorites: Customers buy lots of paperbacks.

In their own words: “It’s a nice place for anybody and everybody. We’re a very open store.”

Checker Records

Checker Records

 

28 South Howell Street

A coffee and music gift shop with an espresso bar, deli, and baked goods, as well as CDs, music memorabilia, and musical accessories

Just for college students: Checker Records is open 7 days a week. Try their flavored coffees with zero extra calories.

What you didn’t know: MLive rated Checker Records the 6th best independent coffee house in Michigan state. Checker Records’ coffee bar opened 10 years ago, 26 years after the gift shop got up and running.

#1 selling drink: The white chocolate caramel Teddy Bear. Drink it hot or cold.

In their own words: “Coffee’s a personal thing, unlike other food items. Some like it stronger, some like it weaker, some like it hot, cold—we try to learn all those different preferences.”

The Udder Side (not actually in Hillsdale, but . . . close enough.)

Udder Side

121 West Chicago Street, Jonesville

Offers hard and soft-serve ice cream and fast food

Just for college students: Order the best-selling Manure Spreader. All your classmates love it! P.S. They’re open longer hours than you think!

What you didn’t know: The staff works 80-90 hours a week. Co-owner Julie Bauer’s passion for the ice cream business began with her high school job at Jonesville Dairy Treats. She and her husband Dave later bought out the established and moved it to the “udder side” of the street—hence the name change.

In their own words: “Ice cream crosses all boundaries. We’ve been waiting on students for 25 years. There’s a real connection here!”