SAGINAW, MI — From small, local businesses opening and closing to the region’s largest event center going cashless, here’s some mid-Michigan business news you might have missed:

New Saginaw restaurant strives to bring back the atmosphere of closed bar

A father and son team have come together to open a restaurant and bar in Saginaw County.

Johnny and John Wesolek opened JJ’s Roadhouse to the public earlier this month on Wednesday, Sept. 13.

Located at 9620 Gratiot Rd., the building was most recently Sporty’s Wing Shack & Smoke House. Before that, it was Houlihan’s Old Tyme Roadhouse.

John Wesolek said he wanted to bring back the same atmosphere that Houlihan’s had in the 80′s and 90′s.

“We saw the lack of a fun bar atmosphere in the area,” Johnny Wesolek said. “Our goal is to have fast, friendly service. Just good, American bar food.”

Read the full story here.

Saginaw’s Dow Event Center goes cashless

Downtown Saginaw’s Dow Event Center has gone cashless.

Beginning Thursday, Sept. 28, the event center, located at 303 Johnson St., will only accept credit or debit card payments at all points of purchase, including parking.

At the same time, a new bag policy went into effect. Now, only clutches no larger than 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches by 2 inches or clear, one-gallon bags for medical or parenting needs will be permitted, according to the Dow Event Center website. No bags, backpacks or purses other than those required for medical or parenting needs will be permitted in the venue, and security personnel will screen bags in the medical/essential category.

Read the full story here.

See images from the Northwood auto show you won’t want to miss

Northwood University’s annual International Auto Show returned Friday, Oct. 6, through Sunday, Oct. 8, bringing hundreds of unique and rare vehicles for display to the mid-Michigan campus.

The 60th auto show will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 8.

The Northwood auto show is the largest outdoor student-run car show in North America, and this year’s event featured a wide range of cars, including rare multi-million dollar hypercars curated from the Winkleman Collection that is owned by a Northwood alumnus and long-time supporter, a classic Corvette recently donated to Northwood by Dianne and Michael Morey of Mount Pleasant, and cars from the private collection of Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Automotive Group.

Click here to see photos from the 2023 show.

Barney’s Bakehouse Bakery opens in Freeland

A mid-Michigan bakery known for Almond Joy cookies, doughnuts and take-and-bake chicken pot pies opened a new location in Freeland this month.

Barney’s Bakehouse Bakery, 421 S. Van Buren St. in Bay City, opened its second location on Wednesday, Oct. 11, at 218 N. Main St. in Freeland.

The original Barney’s Bakehouse Bakery is located where Bay City’s historic Barney’s Bakery operated for nearly a century before closing in 2020. Owner and head baker Jarrid Weighman took over the business in November 2020 and said the business has been growing ever since.

Read the full story here.

Grants to support 93 new jobs, $40 million in private investment in Bay County

Two state Transportation Economic Development Fund grants will support a total of 93 new jobs and $40 million in private investment in Bay County’s Bangor Township.

“Today’s investments will support more than 90 good-paying jobs, drive $40 million of investment, and make a real difference for Michiganders in Bay County,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a news release announcing the grants.

“I am proud that Vantage Plastics chose to expand in Michigan, and I know that their upgrades will support the local economy by bringing new life to a shuttered former manufacturing facility. Also, the Bay County Road Commission’s improvements on Wilder Road will support local freight and traffic flow, building on the region’s growing momentum. Let’s keep working together to make our cities and towns better places to live, work, and invest so anyone can ‘make it’ in Michigan.”

Read the full story here.

Want to work in education? Dozens of schools attending mid-Michigan job fair

Saginaw Valley State University is hosting an education career fair this October with dozens of employers planning to attend.

The university’s Fall Education Fair will take place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, on SVSU’s campus in the Curtiss Hall banquet rooms. Dozens of school districts and other employers are planning to attend, including Bay City Public Schools, Carrollton Public Schools, Dearborn Public Schools, Frankenmuth School District, Genesee Intermediate School District, Midland Public Schools, Saginaw ISD, Traverse City Area Public Schools and others.

This and all SVSU career fairs are open to the public, so job seekers need not be students to attend.

See a list of participating employers here. And read the full story here.

After business closure announcement, note on Patty Flemings door says it’s only temporary

The day after a “permanent” closure was announced on the Patty Flemings Irish Pub Facebook page, the business is closed, but a sign on the door suggests it’s only temporary.

A business closing announcement was posted on the Hemlock bar and grill’s Facebook page Monday, Oct. 9, and was removed from the page soon after.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 10, a hand-written note was posted inside the business’s locked doors stating that “due to some internal struggles, Patty’s is closed temporarily.” The business is located at 265 W. Saginaw St.

The letter to customers continued, “We hope to get this resolved quickly so we can get back to doing what we love…serving you great food and beverages. Thank you for your patience and understanding.”

Read the full story here.

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