BAY CITY, MI — The Michigan Small Business Development Center has named Bay City’s Barney’s BakeHouse Bakery among Michigan’s “Best Small Businesses.”
Barney’s Bakehouse Bakery is located at 421 S. Van Buren St., where Bay City’s historic Barney’s Bakery operated for nearly a century before closing in 2020. Jarrid Weighman took over the business in November 2020 and was trained by former owner Dan Zielinski in the making of the bakery’s original signature breads, doughnuts and custard it was well known for.
Barney’s is among 11 Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC) clients to receive Best Small Business awards at the 19th Annual Michigan Celebrates Small Business Awards Gala on Tuesday, May 2, at Michigan State University’s Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing. Isabella County’s Wood Shop Social is also among the honorees.
“Thank you for recognizing Barney’s BakeHouse Bakery as an award recipient. I’d like to thank the community for their support and for shopping locally,” Weighman said in a statement.
“Barney’s BakeHouse Bakery is a cozy, casual, friendly, neighborhood, full-service bakery. I’m proud to have such an amazing and talented bakery staff. We’re here to help you celebrate life’s sweetest moments.”
Barney’s offerings include the top-selling Almond Joy cookies, ham and cheddar quiche, jalapeno cheddar bread, house-made croutons, banana bread, San Francisco sourdough, doughnuts, chocolate flourless cake, cheesecake, flavored croissants, traditional Fat Tuesday paczki, and other baked goods. The bakery donates its leftover inventory to Hidden Harvest to help further the nonprofit’s mission of alleviating hunger and ending food waste in the Great Lakes Bay Region.
Related: From premium paczki to cookies, these bakeries put new spin on Fat Tuesday pastry
“It’s great to see these entrepreneurs get recognized for all the hard work and passion that goes into their businesses,” CEO and Executive State Director J.D. Collins said in a statement. “The Michigan SBDC’s mission is to help small businesses succeed, and this impressive list demonstrates the impact we aim to have with all our clients.”
Here’s the complete list of award winners:
- City Shield Security Services – Wayne County
- Barney’s BakeHouse Bakery – Bay County
- Eagle Link LLC – Delta County
- Freedom Counseling LLC – Kalamazoo County
- Groovy Donuts – Ingham County
- Ludington Meat Co. – Mason County
- R.J.’s Metropolitan Ice Cream Co. – Jackson
- Sand Bay Marina Sales, Service & Storage – Presque Isle County
- Stafford’s Hospitality Inc. – Emmet County
- Thumb Roast Coffee – Sanilac County
- Wood Shop Social Kitchen & Bar – Isabella County
The SBDC’s mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by providing expert no-cost consulting to new and existing businesses throughout Michigan’s 83 counties, according to an SBDC news release. It connects Michiganders who want to to start or grow their business with no-cost export services, market research, cybersecurity resources, business education and other resources. For more information, visit michigansbdc.org.
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