DELTA TWP. — The Detroit Lions’ success this season after a playoff run last year has made it feel like Christmas sales are still going on at Lansing Athletics.
Owner Alfonso Salas said business at the Lansing Mall sportswear store has “quadrupled” since the Lions began their season and claimed the NFC North championship earlier this month.
The team’s success is an economic boost for stores and restaurants throughout the state and for Salas it’s personal. The Lions played an important role in convincing Gina, his wife of more than 40 years, to date him.
When they met, she refused to go out with Salas because he was a Dallas Cowboys fan, he said. “Everyone in my family is a Lions fan,” she told him.
Detroit Lions football fans Diane Smith of Lansing and grandson Easton McGillis, 7, shop Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, at Rally House East Lansing in Meridian Township. Smith bought two Lions sweatshirts for herself and her husband. “Easton already has lots of Lions clothing, and wanted a U-M football cap,” Smith said. “He knows more about the Lions and Wolverines than both of us.” When Easton left the store, he yelled “Go Lions.”
“The next Monday, I went to her job all dressed up in Lions gear,” Salas said. He’s been a Lions fan ever since and said his store has continually restocked team hats, shirts, hoodies, tumblers and jackets throughout the team’s 15-2 season.
“They fly off the shelves,” Salas said.
Groovy Donuts co-owner Andrew Gauthier agrees that the Lions have helped area businesses. At his two Lansing area bakeries, customers routinely order Lions-inspired donuts with blue and silver sprinkles. They also place specialty orders for Lions-themed treats before games.
Detroit Lions inspired donuts at local bakery Groovy Donuts. The store has locations in East Lansing and Williamston.
“People get kind of creative with this sort of stuff, and we really dig it,” he said.
As the Lions’ Saturday playoff game against the Washington Commanders approaches, here’s a look at Lansing area businesses where you can get game day gear, snacks and treats.
Shop for Lions gear at these stores
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Lansing Athletics, inside the Lansing Mall, at 5348 W. Saginaw Hwy., Delta Township − The locally owned? store sells a variety of Detroit Lions clothing, including hoodies, shirts, sweatshirts, jerseys and jackets. It also carries team hats and tumblers. Salas said staff regularly restock items as they sell out. Learn more at the store’s website at www.lansingathletics.com.
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Rally House, 115 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing, and 1802 W. Grand River Ave., Meridian Township − Sportswear chain Rally House sells Lions gear at both of its Ingham County locations. That includes shirts and jerseys. Learn more at the store’s website at www.rallyhouse.com.
Get some game-day treats
Specialty ice cream, including Lion Tracks, seen at MSU Dairy Store on the campus of Michigan State University, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025.
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Groovy Donuts, 3054 E. Lake Lansing Road, East Lansing, and 313 W. Grand River Ave., Williamston − The locally-owned bakery will carry yeast-raised donuts with vanilla icing and Honolulu blue and silver sprinkles, along with football-shaped and decorated donuts in store. Specialty orders can also be placed. Learn more at the store’s website at www.groovydonuts.com.
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Mitten Raised Bakery, 1331 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing − The bakery will carry Lions-themed sugar cookies and blue and white sprinkle donuts in-store. Customers are encouraged to place orders in advance. A dozen cookies cost between $45 and $48. Chocolate chunk cookies decorated for the team will also be offered. “If they go to the Super Bowl, I’ll make something wild,” owner Katie Karamol said. Learn more at the bakery website at www.mittenraised.com.
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MSU Dairy Store, Anthony Hall, 474 S. Shaw Lane, East Lansing − The MSU Dairy Store offers “Lion Tracks,” a team-inspired concoction made with blue moon ice cream, cookie dough pieces and crushed Oreos. The store also offers the “Roar Restored Shake,” made with Lion Tracks ice cream topped with whipped cream, a sprinkle rim, and blue and silver sprinkles, according to the store’s Facebook page. Learn more at the store’s website at www.msudairystore.com.
Pick up snacks for the game
“We’ve had a lot of business from this special blend,” Bob Matthiesen, owner of Pop-ity Popcorn says Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, outside his shop in Lansing. “It’s great, a lot of new customers have come into the shop.”
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Graze Craze, 2315 Jolly Road, East Lansing − Charcuterie-style board store Graze Craze is offering a “Game Day Board,” that features meat, cheese, bread, crackers, fresh fruit, veggies, & house-made dips, jams, and hummus. Customers can pre-order them for pick-up and delivery. Learn more at www.grazecraze.com.
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Pop-Ity Popcorn Co., 924 E. Cesar E Chavez Ave., Lansing − Specialty popcorn shop Pop-Ity Popcorn Co. is offering Detroit Lions flavored popcorn, a mix of Blue raspberry and vanilla-flavored popcorn, in bags, buckets and tins. They range in price, depending on size, from $3 to $54. Staff pop the corn, flavor it and bag it in-house, said kitchen manager Christine Griswold. Learn more at their website at www.popitypopcorn.com.
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Honey Badger Farms, 700 N. Edgar Road, Mason − Honey Badger Farms is offering Detroit Lions-themed blue and white bagels. They are available in plain or cinnamon sugar. Learn more at the farm’s Facebook page at “Honey Badger Farms.”
MSU Dairy Store worker Benjamin Adams scoop up Lion Tracks ice cream, Wednesay, Jan. 15, 2025. It is Blue Moon ice cream filled with cookie doe pieces and crushed Oreos.
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Contact Reporter Rachel Greco at rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on X @GrecoatLSJ .
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Get ready for gameday: Where to find Detroit Lions-themed gear and grub