WRITER | CANDIE CONAT
PHOTO | ROSY TOMORROWS
In the quaint downtown district of Dowagiac, you’ll find a store called Rosy Tomorrows. From the excellent customer service provided by the always-friendly staff to the stellar combination of gift and home goods, Rosy Tomorrows sets the bar high for the downtown district stores. Owner Claudia Zebell loves being part of this close-knit community and is excited to note that their guest book shows customers from all corners of the country ― even the world!
Zebell’s daughter Anne is the shop’s manager, and the two have great fun working together to curate a diverse and interesting line of products. With brands like Swan Creek Candles, Mudpie, Finchberry, Tiani, and Greenleaf, Rosy Tomorrows is a shop you won’t want to miss. With everything from handmade jewelry to soaps, shampoos, and body wash, top-notch candles, kitchen accessories galore, linens, home living accents, wall art, and Amish furniture, you are sure to find something you just can’t live without.
The store focuses on Michigan-made items, specifically unique Michigan-made items. A very popular line of products comes from a husband-and-wife duo who create raised food/water benches for dogs of all sizes. The same couple uses old books to make the most interesting picture frames. They cut state shapes from the pages to give a 3-D effect.
Zebell even has a local vendor who roasts coffee beans, and she says it smells so good it almost makes her want to drink coffee. And while she may not enjoy coffee, her customers rave about how amazing the flavor is.
Rosy Tomorrows carries several different high-quality soap lines. One is Finchberry, which Zebell says are little pieces of artwork. But her favorite product line and the story that goes with it is Tiani. Zebell had searched for a line that included a liquid pump soap and came across Tiani. The brand had recently received a 5-star review in Vogue magazine, but most of the information she found were articles from the South.
Zebell decided to reach out to the owner, Violet, and was delighted to discover that she was from Michigan. Violet spoke about getting her work ethic from her grandparents, who are both in their 90s and still put in the largest garden around. The Tiani soaps are made from all-natural ingredients, perfect for sensitive skin. Both Zebells are partial to the Pine, Eucalyptus, Grapefruit, and Patchouli blends.
One of the long-time favorite items at Rosy Tomorrows is florals. In fact, one full section of the store is dedicated to high-quality, realistic florals that include wreaths, garlands, and both composed bouquets and individual stems so that customers can create their own arrangements. They even offer a great selection of unusual vases to go with the florals.
“Everyone in the downtown district looks out for one another and helps each other when needed,” says Anne. Having been there for seven years, she is grateful for the camaraderie that became evident during the Covid shutdowns. Everyone checked in on one another and helped brainstorm ways to get through the difficult time. And get through, they did.
As their employee handbook states, “We want our customers to know that we care about them as human beings. They are not an interruption in our day; they are why we exist.” What a refreshing attitude! Sounds like we should all plan a visit to Rosy Tomorrows.
Rosy Tomorrows
120 S. Front Street
Dowagiac, MI 49047
(269) 783-1155 l RosyTomorrows2.com
