A multi-million dollar investment, new plans for a historic building and more mid-Michigan business news

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BAY CITY, MI — From a $31 million investment planned at Standish-based Vantage Plastics to a Saginaw County banquet center’s big plans for the Lumber Barons and Stables property in Bay City, here’s some recent mid-Michigan business news you might have missed:

Treat your four-legged friend to a banana ‘pup cup’ from this Michigan ice cream shop

There’s a waterfront ice cream shop on the banks of the Saginaw River in Bay City that’s known for its unique flavors freshly made with locally-sourced ingredients.

Michigan Cream & Sugar Ice Cream Co., a seasonal ice cream parlor located in the Uptown Bay City development that’s also home to Prost! Wine Bar & Charcuterie, Real Seafood, Vinny’s Pizzeria and other restaurants and retailers, serves campfire s’more, peaches and cream, lemon blueberry and other special flavors in freshly-made bubble waffle cones.

But this summer, Cream & Sugar has a special treat for canine customers, too.

“Ice cream maker Rachel Vaillancourt was baking banana bread for our ‘totally bananas’ flavor a couple weeks ago, when she suggested we should make a banana pup cup. She said her dog loves to eat bananas as an occasional treat,” said Tim Mangan, manager of Cream & Sugar, 160 Uptown Drive.

Read the full story here.

A view of a Frankenmuth sign through the sunflowers at Grandpa Tiny’s Heritage Farm located at 7775 Weiss St. in Frankenmuth on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)

Frankenmuth event to focus on autism awareness for the business community

The Xavier DeGroat Autism Foundation will host a special event focused on autism awareness for the business community at Frankenmuth’s historic Fischer Hall next month.

The organization’s Autism Club Awards Dinner will take place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17, at 613 S. Main St.

Area business and community leaders are invited to attend the event and reflect on how neurodiversity and inclusion can benefit their organizations. General admission is $25, and VIP admission is $100. Register online at www.xavierdegroatfoundation.org.

During the event, Xavier DeGroat, CEO of the foundation and an autism advocate, will honor Wayne Bronner, president and CEO of Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, the Zehnder family, U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint Township, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, State House Rep. Amos O’Neal, Frankenmuth Mayor Mary Anne Ackerman and others, according to a foundation news release.

Read the full story here.

Heritage Natural Foods, 717 Gratiot Ave. in Saginaw, seen here on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, has closed. (Heather Jordan | MLive.com)

West side Saginaw shop known for natural foods, ‘snail mail’ newsletter closes after 41 years

A small health food store with a decades-long history on Saginaw’s West side has closed.

Debie Baxter first opened Heritage Natural Foods with her late husband, Paul Baxter, on Mackinaw Street in 1982. They operated the store there for about a decade before moving it to 717 Gratiot Ave., across the street from Zorba’s Lounge, now Skymint, and Scottish Inn, where it has served loyal customers ever since.

“There was such a lack of natural food stores (at the time),” Debie Baxter said, noting that major grocery store chains weren’t yet offering many of those products. “We were the first independent natural food store in town.”

Through the years, Heritage Natural Foods offered shoppers specialty and gourmet foods, such as nuts and seeds, organic jams, honey, maple syrup and Traverse City cherries, giftable items like Saginaw T-shirts and hats, and other Michigan-made and locally-made goods. When natural food products became commonplace at larger grocery stores, Heritage Natural Foods added supplements to its inventory to remain competitive.

The Baxters’ shop attracted a loyal clientele whom Debie Baxter kept in touch with via a monthly newsletter.

“I did an actual snail mail newsletter every month to about 150 people,” she said.

Read the full story here.

Workers trim molds for returnable packaging at the Vantage Plastics, 1415 W. Cedar St. in Standish in this MLive/The Bay City Times file photo. (Yfat Yossifor | MLive.com file)

Vantage Plastics to invest $31 Million, create 93 jobs in Bay County

Standish-based Vantage Plastics is investing nearly $31 million and creating 93 jobs in Bay County’s Bangor Township.

Vantage Plastics is a custom thermoformer with full in-house design, prototyping, and tool build capabilities serving customers in the automotive and consumer goods industries, according to a Michigan Economic Development Corp. news release announcing the investment.

The company, which currently employs 318 in Michigan, is experiencing significant growth, especially in the automotive supply chain, and plans to expand into an existing vacant facility in Bangor Township, where it will add manufacturing and warehousing space.

The project is expected to result in a total capital investment of $30.9 million and create 93 jobs with the support of a $1.2 million Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant, the release states. The project supports the state’s efforts to be the global leader in the future of mobility and vehicle electrification. The company chose Michigan for the project over a competing site in Nevada due to existing relationships and customers it has in Michigan.

Read the full story here.

Popeyes says it is bringing back its popular chicken sandwich “every day” on Sunday, November 3, 2019 (Photo by Neil Blake | MLive)

Midland will have to wait at least a little while longer for new Popeyes to open

Midland will have to wait at least a little while longer for a new Popeyes restaurant to open.

The fast food chain specializing in fried chicken is opening a new location at 1807 S. Saginaw Road, just North of Pi’s Chinese Restaurant. The building is under construction.

“We’re always happy to see new investment in center city Midland, and we’ve certainly heard a lot of positive things in the community, people excited about Popeyes coming to Midland,” Jacob Kain, director of planning and community development for the city of Midland, told MLive/The Saginaw News in March. “We’re excited for them to open and be a part of Midland.”

But four months later, the restaurant’s timeline for opening is unclear. As of late July, the project had experienced delays.

“The latest information the city has regarding the project is that there are delays receiving switchgear necessary for their electrical service, an issue facing other projects around the nation as well,” Kain said. “As a result, we don’t have an estimate on the project’s completion.”

Read the full story here.

Lumber Barons Brewery, 804 E. Midland St. in Bay City, is seen in this MLive file photo. (Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com file)

Saginaw’s historic Golden Glow brings new life to Bay City’s shuttered Lumber Barons

A Saginaw County banquet center with a nearly 100-year history has acquired Bay City’s Lumber Barons and Stables property.

Golden Glow Ballroom, established in 1924 and located at 2950 S. Graham Road (M-52) in Saginaw County’s Swan Creek Township, has big plans for the shuttered Bay City event venue and bar at 804 E. Midland St.

“BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!! We have acquired The Lumber Barons and Stables in the heart of downtown Bay City. Though the name and location will be different, we will be bringing the same high level of hospitality, food, and service to Bay City,” reads a recent post announcing the news on the Golden Glow Ballroom’s Facebook page. “Our new location is currently being renovated and will feature an all-new restaurant, brewery, banquet facility, and more.”

Read the full story here.

Style Encore, located in the plaza at 2830 Tittabawassee Road, near the intersection of Tittabawassee and Bay roads in Kochville Township, is for sale and possibly closing. (Heather Jordan | MLive.com)

Saginaw-area resale clothing shop seeks new owner

A resale clothing store near one of Saginaw County’s busiest intersections has been listed for sale.

Style Encore, located in the plaza at 2830 Tittabawassee Road, near the intersection of Tittabawassee and Bay roads, is in need of a new owner, according to a recent post on the shop’s Facebook page.

“Style Encore Saginaw is for sale. We have loved this business and our customers for almost a decade. We are looking for the new owner to take over this store so we can focus on other things,” reads a recent post. “Please share this news with friends and family so Style Encore can continue to give Saginaw a great place to buy and sell apparel, handbags, shoes and accessories! Contact Cat Eckstaedt for inquiries at 763.520.8464 or ceckstaedt@winmarkcorporation.com.”

Read the full story here.

Wedding gowns from the Lillian West collection and carried by Infinity Bridal are seen in this 2018 MLive file photo. (Isis Simpson-Mersha, MLive.com file)

A mid-Michigan bridal boutique is going out of business

A bridal boutique located in the Uptown Bay City development is going out of business.

The shop is having a “farewell sale” with dresses deeply discounted, according to the Infinity Bridal Facebook page. In recent days, the store had about 30 gowns left, and they were marked 60% off.

The shop’s impending closure was announced via the Infinity Bridal Facebook page earlier this summer. The post reads:

“It is time to say Farewell to the chapter that is Infinity Bridal. Kelly and I couldn’t be more thankful for each and every individual who has touched this business and helped us turn it to gold. We are so fortunate to be able to move on with amazing memories, accomplishments and immense success.

We would love to pass Infinity Bridal on to someone who can continue to grow what we have built but if we cannot we will be closing our doors August 31st, 2023.”

Read the full story here.

Want more Bay City- and Saginaw-area news? Bookmark the local Bay City and Saginaw news page or sign up for the free “3@3″ daily newsletter for Bay City and Saginaw.

Read more from MLive:

5 things to know about the 2023 Saginaw Art Fair on Ojibway Island

Lululemon opening, Fig & Honey closing and more mid-Michigan business news

Your guide to the Saginaw African Cultural Festival, Michigan’s oldest Black arts fest

There’s hope but no solid plan to reopen this downtown Saginaw restaurant and bar

A visit to Michigan’s ‘Cheese Capital,’ restaurants open and close, and more mid-Michigan business news

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