This one simple shop filled with artisans, crafters, and hobby hustlers is single-handedly changing downtown Grand Ledge.

Plunked right in the middle of the west side of Bridge Street between Jefferson and River is The Collective.

A boutique of unique local and Michigan-made items from local artisans, crafters, and those wonderful hobby hustlers who've turned their passion into profit (the best kind of side hustle, if you ask me).

Items of all kinds are sold through The Collective.

We're talking printed t-shirts and sweaters, wood-crafted bread boards that'll make your charcuterie Instagram-worthy, baked goods, pre-packaged dip and soup mixes (because sometimes you need a shortcut to looking like a culinary genius), soaps and detergents, balms and ointments, and even local raw honey that bees literally worked themselves to death making.

And oh so much more.

Christina Nosal, Laurie Matheny, and their merry band of dynamic women have come together as a "collective"—see what they did there?—and made this shop the epicenter of the downtown store scene.

Christina started out as one of the local crafters in the store, selling her wares not only there but at farm and art markets throughout the area, basically grinding harder than a coffee shop during finals week.

So when the former owner decided she'd had enough, Christina was presented with an "offer she couldn't refuse..." (C'mon, you have to say it with a Marlon Brando voice!).

With her right-hand woman Laurie by her side, they decided they were going to do everything in their power to not only turn their humble store into a success story, but they were going to do it in a way that also lifted up all the crafters and artisans there too.

Rising tide lifts all boats, and all that jazz.

Christina has had the shop since October—not long at all—but with her team they've managed to drive traffic and sales in a way no one imagined, and they did it with a simple but powerful strategy…

They would create events that would be popular with the public and bring them into NOT ONLY her store but the stores all along Bridge Street.

Using Laurie, the unassuming but outspoken media expert (every superhero needs their guy in the chair), they've come up with popular events like Ladies Night Out, which draws a huge crowd downtown, and the Ugly Sweater Crawl, which is basically Christmas but make it fashion... poorly.

Coordinating with all the local downtown shops and stores, they're operating as a de facto chamber of commerce, which is benefiting everyone on the strip.

But the captains steering this ship have been Christina, Laurie, and their team.

And that effort, even in this short span of time, is being felt throughout the entire Grand Ledge area.

And as the events become more popular and draw bigger crowds, this avalanche will continue to snowball—yes, I'm mixing my winter metaphors on purpose—until it has built enough inertia to sustain a vibrant and thriving downtown Grand Ledge all on its own.

I'd say you have to go in and visit, but by now I think you've gotten that message loud and clear.

One thing Christina was absolutely beaming to show me when I first walked into the store was her plant bar.

A station in the back of the shop that gives you the space and tools to create your very own terrarium of succulent plants.

It's like Build-A-Bear, but for people who actually keep their promises about watering things.

Christina said this has been incredibly popular with the public, and the way she spoke about it, you could see the palpable pride radiating off her.

And I have to be honest... while the store doesn't sell the things that I would particularly be drawn to, it has become my favorite place to hang out in... like some creepy stalker who really appreciates small business and community spirit, obviously.

So come by. Say "Hi" to Christina, Laurie, and all the artisans, crafters, and hobby hustlers that make this store as viable and charming as it is.