Lois Linden Nelson

Wo m a n ’ s

W o r l d

congregation shaarey zedek Sisterhood

presents

AN AFTERNOON WITH

Ari Freed

with discounted china including dis-
continued patterns, silverware, crystal,
jewelry and other gift items. Melnick
offers a special 5 percent discount to
university students and stresses that all
of her merchandise is new, which she
said is important to those purchasing
items for a kosher kitchen.
Melnick considered closing the store
after her parents died, but decided to
keep it open because Internet sales were
strong and she thought some of her
grandchildren might be interested in
working there eventually.
“Eighty-five percent of our business
is from the U.S., with 65 percent of sales
through the Internet,” she said.
Orman, co-owner of Freed’s with his
cousin Ari Freed, has seen a signifi-
cant increase in American shoppers in
recent months as the exchange rate has
reached as high as $1.43. He notes that
Internet purchases are not subject to
sales taxes, and shipping is waived for
purchases of more than $100.
Orman cites the wide selection of
favorably priced foreign and Canadian
fashion brands as another reason to
shop there.
The popular Canada Goose brand
women’s coat, which he compares to
North Face, has the same retail price
range of $695-$845 as at Nordstrom,
but U.S. customers save on the
exchange rate, plus Freed’s will ship the
coat to U.S. customers tax- and duty-
free — for as much as a 43 percent
savings.
The cost of a quality man’s suit for
less than in Detroit also lures some
shoppers to Freed’s. For example, a Jack
Victor suit retails for $695 in the U.S.,
Orman says, while Freed’s sells two
Victor suits for $610 American.
Melnick says her store is one of the
last Jewish retailers located in down-
town Windsor. According to Andrew
Tepperman, there were 10 home fur-
nishings stores in downtown Windsor
during the 1960s, but now Tepperman’s
is the only one in this category.
“Windsor had a vibrant downtown,

Paula
abdul

Dan Orman

Tips for
Travelers,
Shoppers

While traffic backups are rare dur-
ing non-rush-hour border cross-
ings, Allan Gale of West Bloomfield
recommends that visitors avoid the
trip on Saturday nights when traffic
is heavier because American young
adults often visit Windsor bars and
the casino. Unlike the U.S., Canada’s
legal drinking and gambling age
is 19. For many Detroiters, a trip to
Windsor to celebrate a 19th birthday
is a rite of passage.
U.S. Customs regulations allow visi-
tors who stay in Canada less than 48
hours to bring back $200 in duty-free
merchandise. That means a car with
four American visitors could bring
back $800 duty-free.
Not all Canadian food items are
allowed in the U.S. Processed foods,
bakery items and some cheeses are
generally permissible. Fresh fruits
and vegetables are not allowed.

*

but there was a shift to big stores and
malls with free parking. Also, people
shop when they travel or they buy
online,” said Jay Katz, executive direc-
tor of the Windsor Jewish Community
Centre. He says that Windsor’s Jewish
population is 1,500 and has been stable
for 10 years.

FREQUENT SHOPPERS
Saving on purchases isn’t the only rea-
son to shop in Windsor, Gale says. He
enjoys a range of brands and products
that are not readily available in Metro
Detroit, such as specialty foods at the
Real Canadian Superstore.
“They have so much food that is
different — so many kinds of yogurt,
good-quality salmon, kosher food and
Montreal smoked meat,” Gale said.

continued on page 14

and

highlighting
2016
Woman of Valor

Henrietta
Weisberg

join us

Wednesday, May 4, 2016
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Congregation Shaarey Zedek
27375 Bell Road | Southfield | 48034

POP-UP BOUTIQUE SHOPPING

BOUTIQUES ARE OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY, NO TICKET REQUIRED

SPEAKERS | LUNCHEON | RAFFLE

For tickets and information:
Phone: 248.357.5544, extension 48
e-mail: sisterhood@shaareyzedek.org
Web: www.llnwomansworld.org

April 7 • 2016

2071970

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