Frenchtown Square mall has a program called Ultimate Shopping Card. This is a discount program for travelers, visitors and tourists. You’ll find the flier at the customer service desk.

Here’s how it works: register in the guest book and show your hotel key, hotel receipt or out-of-town driver’s license. You’ll then get an Ultimate Shopping Card, find out what stores are currently participating, and go shopping.

How might this be useful to those of us who live in the area? Well, let’s say you have friends or relatives who are visiting for a weekend. Maybe the sister needs a pair of shoes. Maybe the brother would like a sports shirt from a Michigan team.

Now you know about the visitors’ discount card at the local mall and can suggest a place to go shopping.

Yes, Monroe has a relatively small mall. But there is still a lot of interesting stuff you can buy at the mall stores. And given the gas prices, wouldn’t you like to avoid yet another drive to Toledo, Ann Arbor or Detroit?