SAGINAW, MI — From a new “selfie museum” in Old Town Saginaw to a new bakery on Euclid Avenue in Bay City, here’s some recent business news you might have missed:

Notch’yo food truck owners open permanent location at Birch Run outlets, plan for more

The owners of the Notch’yo brand and food trucks have opened their first brick-and-mortar location in Birch Run, and that’s just the beginning.

“We hope to see about 10 locations spread throughout Michigan,” said David Young, who owns the Notch’yo brand with his wife, Elizabeth Young. “We love people, and we love food, and we love the people that love our food.”

What began as a food truck business now includes Notch’yo Burger ‘N’ Snow, located near the Nike Factory Store at Birch Run Premium Outlets, 12158 S. Beyer Road in Birch Run. The Youngs aim to open another Birch Run location, Notch’yo Foods, at 8010 Dixie Highway this summer.

The new Notch’yo Burger ‘N’ Snow, which celebrated its grand opening Monday, April 24, serves burgers, shaved ice, hand-dipped ice cream, smoothies and milkshakes.

Read the full story here.

Self-ish Selfie Shoppe brings new experience to Old Town Saginaw

A new business, Self-ish Selfie Shoppe, is bringing the “selfie museum” experience to Old Town Saginaw.

The studio, located at 406 Court St., formerly Phat Cat Guitars, features colorful and creative backdrops, each with a different theme and props, where guests can take selfies or pose for photos with friends and family. For an hourly rate, guests can access all the sets, props and ring lights to snap social media-worthy pics.

Business owner Tanisha Brooks, who is also an educator, photographer and owner of Trinity Creations Photography, saw a need for this type of memory-making experience in her hometown.

“I was like, ‘What a neat concept. …What would it be like to be able to bring something like that here to Saginaw?’” Brooks recalled thinking when she first learned about the selfie museum trend taking off in larger markets. “Why do you have to go to Detroit to have something fun?”

At Self-ish Selfie Shoppe, there’s a bright pink Barbie-inspired doll box large enough for an adult to stand in, a “money room,” a retro diner scene, a soft pink and black Chanel-inspired room, a luxury private jet scene, a classroom scene, and a boxing scene, among others. Brooks plans to change the spaces about every three months and to collaborate with art students from Saginaw Arts & Sciences Academy in the future.

Read the full story here.

Ruth’s Chris will ‘elevate’ customer experience at Soaring Eagle Casino

The upscale restaurant chain Ruth’s Chris Steak House is preparing to open at Mount Pleasant’s Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort this summer, and construction is almost complete.

Ruth’s Chris has locations in metro Detroit, West Michigan and across the country; this will be the first in Mount Pleasant, home to Central Michigan University.

“Ruth’s Chris becoming part of the Soaring Eagle family will elevate what we have built here over the past 40 years in the gaming/hospitality industry,” said Tanya J. Bardy, advertising and public relations manager for the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan.

“Ruth’s Chris will give our guests the feeling of an escape, relaxation and will bring people together over a delectable meal.”

Read the full story here.

Biggby Coffee coming to Bridgeport as chain’s mid-Michigan presence grows

Another Biggby Coffee is coming to Saginaw County as the chain grows its footprint in mid-Michigan and across the state.

The region’s newest Biggby store is under construction at 6605 Dixie Highway in Bridgeport Township. The drive-thru-only location with a walk-up window and patio seating will join the Freeland, Frankenmuth, Hemlock, Clare and Bay City stores that all opened in the last several months. Nearby, Starbucks is also opening a new location on Dixie, in the former Big Boy restaurant.

Alex Winkel, an area representative for Biggby Coffee and owner of the State Street and Bay Road stores in Saginaw County, said Biggby’s “brand awareness is reaching an all-time high.”

“People are not just waiting, but they’re demanding Biggby in their town.”

The new Bay City store, located at 4114 Wilder Road, opened on April 18.

Read the full story here.

Michigan’s Best Local Eats: Volcano-stone molcajete from Cazadores Mexican Grill & Cantina

Cazadores Mexican Grill & Cantina serves fresh Mexican food made in-house daily, including the popular molcajete.

The eye-catching entree served in an authentic volcano stone dish is made with carne asada, chicken breast, shrimp, charro beans, green onions and jalapeno. The menu also features other steak and seafood dishes, fajitas, enchiladas burritos, chimichangas and other Mexican dishes.

Restaurateur Suzette Bojaj opened Cazadores inside Saginaw Township’s Fashion Square Mall last December in the space formerly occupied by Willow Tree. Her husband, Marash Bojaj, helps her run the business. The couple, who were high school sweethearts, have owned multiple restaurants together and have about 30 years of experience in the industry.

The restaurant’s music, colorful murals and several-foot-tall live cactus displayed near the host’s stand create a festive atmosphere for diners. There’s also a full bar with at least 20 tequila selections, so guests can enjoy margaritas, micheladas and other drinks with their meal.

“I love the brightness,” Suzette Bojaj said. “When you come into our restaurant, you’re family; That’s how we treat our guests.”

Read the full story here.

Heidi’s Darn Good Cookies moving from Bay City’s Linn Street to Euclid Avenue

Less than a year after opening a new Bay City store on Linn Street near Midland Street, Heidi’s Darn Good Cookies is moving to Euclid Avenue.

Heidi’s Darn Good Cookies is relocating its Bay City store from 111 N. Linn St., near Midland Street, in Bay City, to 1590 S. Euclid Ave., formerly Elaine’s Bake Shop. The new store will open at 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 3.

“We’re really excited for this new location,” said business owner Heidi Niernberg, who also has a bakery at 2903 Pierce Road in Saginaw County’s Kochville Township, near the campus of Saginaw Valley State University.

Niernberg noted that her Linn Street store has been closed since the April 4 fire at Mode’s Tavern, but her plans to move to Euclid Avenue were in the works before that.

“We were baking all the cookies in Saginaw and transporting them to the Bay City location, and now we will be able to bake on-site at both locations, which is huge,” Niernberg said. “It gives you better, fresher cookies.”

Read the full story here.

Midland Area Farmers Market opening for 2023 season with new interactive vendor map

The Midland Area Farmers Market opens for the 2023 season Saturday, May 6, and a new interactive map of vendors will make it easier for shoppers to see what’s there each day.

The new map will allow market goers to see which vendors will be at the farmers market, at the Dow Diamond East Parking Lot, 825 E. Main St., on any given day, where they are located within the market and their contact information. Shoppers can find the map online at mbami.org/farmersmarket.

More than 80 vendors are signed up for this market season, including new vendors and food trucks, such as Twisted Fork, Phat Matt’s, Hangry Bear, Pointer Creek Farm, a Taste of the Country and Max Schultz Farms, according to a Midland Business Alliance news release.

Market hours are 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays May 6 through Oct. 28 and 9 a.m. to noon the first three Saturdays in November. Parking is free, and the market accepts SNAP, WIC Project FRESH, Senior Project FRESH, Double Up Food Bucks and Prescription for Health.

Read the full story here.

Saginaw farmers’ market has calendar full of events for 2023 season

The Downtown Saginaw Farmers’ Market is opening for the 2023 season on Wednesday, May 24, with a new farmer vendor and a calendar packed full of special events.

The farmers’ market season will run from May 24 through Saturday, Oct. 28. The market is located under the outdoor pavilion at the SVRC Marketplace, 203 S. Washington Ave. in downtown Saginaw.

The market will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday and Friday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. It will also be open on Mondays from July 3 through Aug. 28.

Every Saturday this season will be kids’ day, and Saturdays will also feature artisans, who will showcase their works and offer demonstrations.

Shelly Harrell, executive director of the Downtown Saginaw Farmers’ Market, said these are just a few of the things market-goers can look forward to this year.

“We have a new farmer vendor (Lor Gardening of Kawkawlin), which is excellent because we’ve had some retire,” Harrell said. “We’re excited to welcome a new farmer vendor to the market. That’s been our goal the last few years. …With retirements and people not farming like they used to, its been difficult.”

Read the full story here.

McLaren Bay Region adds 3 new executives to senior leadership team

McLaren Bay Region has appointed three vice presidents, completing the organization’s senior leadership team.

New to McLaren Bay Region’’s senior leadership are Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kenneth Parsons, Chief Nursing Officer Stacey Klump and Chief Financial Officer Sean Fischer, according to a McLaren Bay Region news release.

“We’re fortunate to have added these three executives to our senior leadership team, and through their addition, we’ve created an experienced, well-rounded, and dynamic group,” Darrell Lentz, McLaren Bay Region president and CEO, said in a statement.

“With this team, I feel very confident about what we can collectively accomplish for our organization and the community we’re grateful to serve.”

All three joined the leadership team in recent weeks.

Read the full story here.

Read more from MLive:

These Black-owned businesses were selected for CMURC’s first Lift ME cohort

Saginaw farmers’ market has calendar full of events for 2023 season

Lewis Black to perform stand-up comedy at Saginaw’s Temple Theatre

Old Civitan Recreation Center inspires interest but no sales bid yet, Saginaw officials say

Riverside sites added as potential Saginaw bus transit headquarters. Civitan out as option.

A new, 334-acre park opened in Saginaw. Here’s what it looks like.