BY BTL STAFF
EASTPOINTE – Friends of Ariel's Enchanted Garden, located at 23716 Gratiot Ave. are organizing a Cash Mob on Saturday, May 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to help the owner, Mark Dikowski, raise money to buy his house back. Due to a family tragedy, he must buy his house from his former brother-in-law by May 15.
Dikowski is the owner of Ariel's Enchanted Garden, an Eastpointe independent florist and gift store. Ariel's was established over 15 years ago by Dikowski and his partner Gary Anders.
Dikowski's life and business partner Gary, died unexpectedly of a heart attack in July 2010. Due to estate issues, Dikowski is being forced to buy his own house from Gary's brother.
Up until Gary's death, Ariel's had been surviving during the economic downtown. Since then, the business has struggled as Dikowski worked to pull his life back together. The Cash Mob will help support the business and help keep its owner in his home.
Ariel's is a floral shop known for a wide selection lawn and garden art, Walt Disney classic art collection and collectibles, art glass, hand-made tiles, and unique gifts.
The first Cash Mobs sprung up in Buffalo and Cleveland last fall. The organizer's intent was to provide a financial and morale boost to a local business owner while giving the Mobbers the opportunity to meet new people during the events.
Rapid growth of this activist approach to supporting local business is evidenced by the fact that over 170 Cash Mobs were held on National Cash Mob Day – March 24.
The organizers say to think of the Cash Mob as a "shop local" flash mob created to spur local economic stimulus.
Each Cash Mob participant is asked to spend at least twenty dollars at the Cash Mob business. The twenty dollars demonstrates personal commitment to supporting Ariel's Enchanted Garden, a local independent retailer, while having fun doing it as a part of a larger group effort.
