S T N I R P B M U TH l a c o l h t i w s e s s e n i s u b l a Loc B M U H T e ties to th
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M3 Wireless takes pride in being a local team providing local service Paige Withey paige.withey@hearstnp.com When Brian King opened M3 Wireless in 2007, his goal was to provide the community with a local wireless internet business. Now, 14 years later, that goal is still alive as the homegrown business continues to upgrade and expand. King, a Bad Axe High School graduate, continued his education to receive an associate degree in applied science from Davenport University. “I didn’t know that I would transition into this field of work,” King said. “I changed my major multiple times during college and finally completed my associate degree with computers.” “I originally owned and operated Monitors, Modems, and More and in 2007 I decided there was a need for internet in the community,” he added. At the time, there were only a couple internet options available to local residents and the quality of those few options were reportedly not the best. To alleviate the problem, the team at M3 Wireless started working on their own service. “We started with one tower and have grown to be a medium sized business offering wireless internet in five counties,” King said.
Brian King, owner of M3 Wireless, takes pride in having a local team providing local service to their Thumb customers. (Paige Withey/Huron Daily Tribune)
Currently, M3 Wireless brings internet to its customers from Midland, Saginaw, Southfield, and Chicago, providing services locally that otherwise wouldn’t be available. (Paige Withey/Huron Daily Tribune)
Currently, M3 Wireless brings internet to its customers from Midland, Saginaw, Southfield, and Chicago. This allows the business to provide services to local customers they otherwise wouldn’t have available. “We have been fortunate enough to work with some great companies in the area to provide services to our community,” King said. “The most difficult part of owning a business in this area is that we are cutoff from the outside world when it comes to certain services.” “The most rewarding aspect of owning a business in this community is the opportunity to live
the extra mile to fix any problem,” he added. “If anyone wants to stop in, they are always welcome in our Bad Axe office.” Over the years, M3 Wireless has continued to upgrade and change its business to offer more speed and services to Thumb residents. “We now have over 100 transmit facilities and we are constantly looking to work with different people in the area,” King said. “We utilize towers, grain legs, water towers, and other structures to provide service to areas that are under-served.” “We love to hear from anyone that needs service or wants to work with us on a project,” he
and raise my children in this environment,” he added. “I have always wanted to stay in this area, and I love raising my children here.” In providing services to many different homes and businesses in the area, King is able to help those families enjoy life in the Thumb as well. The team at M3 Wireless takes pride in being a local team providing local wireless services. “Our whole team lives in our service area and shops at our local stores,” King said. “We have real people answering the phones close to home.” “We strive to make our customers happy and we are willing to go
added. “We are currently working on a few different fiber projects that should be available later this year.” A year into the pandemic, the team at M3 Wireless continues to follow state guidelines and precautions to keep their staff and customers safe. Its office is equipped with a service space separate from staff with plexiglass service windows. To anyone interested in pursuing their own dreams of opening their own business, King’s advice is to think carefully and make sure you don’t underestimate the cost to start up your own business or overestimate your immediate profit.
“It takes a lot to start up a business,” King said. “If someone expects to start a business and make millions of dollars the first day, it won’t happen.” “Owning your own business takes a lot of time, determination, knowledge, and a strong team of workers,” he added. “It can however be incredibly rewarding.” More information about M3 Wireless and its services can be found on the company’s Facebook page as well as its business website. M3 Wireless, located next to Longshot Lanes and Hungry Howies, is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Ubly flower shop preparing for busy season Mary Drier For the Tribune
The Buds & Blossoms flower shop in Ubly is preparing for its busy season coming in the next couple of months. (Courtesy Photo)
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One of the busiest times for a Ubly business will be coming up soon. Buds & Blossoms flower shop creates a lot of arrangements for weddings, proms, and funerals, but that is not the busiest time for Buds & Blossoms owner Amy Schulte. “The busiest time is around Mother’s Day,” Schulte said. “It varies from time to time. I could have a lot of weddings to work on, and proms, but the busiest is generally around Mother’s Day. “I usually offer some kind of special then, but it’s too early to say what
I’m going to offer.” According to Schulte, she was in a program at the Huron County Skill Center that put her on her path to owning the floral shop. “I worked here when I was in high school through the (on the job training) program through the Skill Center,” she said. “Than, when I graduated, they offered it to me to buy because they were getting ready to retire, and I did.” She took over the business from Dan and Karen Lackowski. That was 21 years ago. Experience proved the best trainer for Schulte. “I learned on the job,” she said. “I learned by
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working with them.” Buds & Blossoms flower shop offers floral arrangements, gifts, cards, plush animals, silk flowers, collectibles, some wedding accessories, and more. The business offers some plants, but does not have a greenhouse. “I don’t carry vegetable plants,” she said. Schulte has one employee to help her when she gets busy. Buds & Blossoms is open Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. The business is located at 2224 E. Main St., Ubly, For more information, call 989-658-8471.
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The Bay Port Inn in Bay Port currently undergoing renovation work. The restaurant has been undergoing renovation work for the past few months and hopes to re-open later this spring. (Robert Creenan/Huron Daily Tribune)
Melissa Mell working to bring the best service possible Robert Creenan robert.creenan@hearst.com Melissa Mell may not originally be from the Upper Thumb, but she has established herself in the local service industry enough to take on the takeover of a prominent local establishment. The co-owner of two One-Stop Shop gas stations and a Cottage Inn Pizza location, her most recent project is modernizing the Bay Port Inn for restaurant goers. A native of Fowlerville, Mell came to the Thumb seven years ago after meeting Jerald Ignash of Caseville. Mell and Ignash run the One-Stop Shop gas stations in Pigeon and Elkton and Cottage Inn Pizza in Pigeon together, with the pizza location in existence since 2018. She also has previous experience working as a corporate trainer for Applebee’s. Mell describes herself as someone who genu-
inely loves the service industry, enjoys the public, and is a people pleaser. “I got a little bored and decided to do something else,” Mell said. She later saw that the Bay Port Inn was for sale. The Bay Port Inn has a history stretching back to when it was completed in 1919. It took on its current form after burning down in the middle of the century. The Inn was previously owned by Eileen Fahl, whose family had owned the it since 1967. “I see a lot of potential in it with its history,” Mell said. “I love the service industry, so it seemed like a good investment. With our plan to build for the future, we’re giving the people of Bay Port something to eat, something to do.” A few different companies have been brought in to carry out interior renovations, including Chad’s Plumbing and Heating, Booms Con-
struction, Zimmerman & Sons Electric, and Gottschalk Construction. The work they have been doing since Mell and Ignash bought the Inn has brought in new plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems, expanded the kitchen space, and moved and expanded the women’s bathroom. “Everything in here was from 1919, along with the electrical and plumbing,” Mell said. “We pretty much gutted it and updated everything.” The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has delayed the liquor license for the Inn and some of the materials coming in for the construction workers. The bartop is not coming in for another month, so it will open without the bar. Mell and Ignash closed on the Inn on Nov. 29, after initial plans to close in February of last year were delayed due to the pan-
Thumb Hardware & Appliance owner humbled by community support Scott Nunn scott.nunn@hearstnp.com Located in a century old building in Elkton, Thumb Hardware & Appliance was one of many hardware stores labeled an essential business by the state and allowed to operate during the pandemic. While some of the neighboring businesses weren’t as fortunate, Thumb Hardware saw an increased demand during the pandemic. “When it first came about, I didn’t know if we would be closed or open,” owner Dennis Ropp said. “It was good to be considered an essential business. We are handling something that people have a dire need for.” The demand amid
the pandemic provided some new lessons in business for Ropp, who has been running the business since 1996. “I think we learned if we thought you had been putting in as much time as you needed, the past year showed us otherwise,” Ropp said. “The number of hours ramped up quite a bit. We were fortunate that we were busier than other places were, but there is a downside as well. It turned into a seven-day-a-week job. I would be in on Sundays trying to track down merchandise.” Ropp said he was blessed to have a business that was declared essential, keeping the doors open. In fact, business was notably busy due to the pan-
demic, Ropp said. “It was encouraging to see the local support that we would get,” Ropp said. “It helped us and every other hardware store that we have talked to.” Ropp said the increased support from the community was encouraging for his business, but more especially for the small towns that need the continued support. “I am old enough to remember how it was years ago, when every small town had its own identity,” Ropp said. “People banded together and made the small town what it is. If there is another change coming, hopefully it is a See THUMB HARDWARE & APPLIANCE on page 6
demic. With her previous experience working at Cottage Inn Pizza and the One-Stop Shops, Mell feels that will help in serving the needs of the customers who come out. “We’re working to just give them the best service around with quality products,” Mell said. At the end of March, there will be a soft opening for the newly redone Inn, which will be fully opened to the public in April. The restaurant will have a sports bar area, dart boards, a jukebox, and a space for live music, with the backyard set aside for a future tiki bar, games, and kid’s activities. Mell has future plans for the upstairs of the Inn, where it was originally set up as a hostel where all the units shared a bathroom and a shower. The upper floor will have single rooms that each have their own bathroom and shower, so they can be rented out
Melissa Mell with her fiancé Jerald Ignash. The two own two One-Stop Shop locations and Cottage Inn Pizza and are finishing up renovation work with the Bay Port Inn. (Melissa Mell/Courtesy Photo) to vacationers, tourists, and fishermen. Mell has also found the Upper Thumb to be a very laid back place where the people are more relaxed.
“I really like the area,” Mell said. “It’s a beautiful area with the Saginaw Bay, boating, and all the outdoor activities here.”
While sundries such as paint were not considered essential, plumbing and other hardware needs were essential during the pandemic. (Scott Nunn/Tribune File Photo)
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Pak’s Backyard Restaurant and Beer Garden in Port Austin, located next to Port Austin Kayak. The restaurant has been open since 2013. (Tribune File Photo)
Chis Boyle’s PAK’s businesses grew out of hobby Port Austin Kayak had slow start before exploding popularity in last few years Robert Creenan robert.creenan@hearst.com Like plenty of other Michiganders, Chris Boyle was introduced to the Upper Thumb by having a summer cottage here most of his life, only moving in 2005 after leaving the Air Force. Now the Troy-native has set up his own shop in Port Austin as the owner of Port Austin Kayak, Pak’s Background, and a new business in development called Pak’s Garage. Boyle got his start in the Thumb as a lawyer for a firm in Bad Axe, a profession he worked in up until 2017. But before Port Austin Kayak got started, he was looking for things to do outside of being a lawyer. “I was looking for a hobby, something that was good for Port Austin that would give tourists something to do,” Boyle said. “I went kayaking one day and thought this was something nice to do.” Despite its location on the tip of the Thumb, Port Austin Kayak got off to a slow beginning in 2006, starting off in a garage where the kayaks were carried down to the beach. It was only after Port Austin Kayak moved to a spot on East Spring Street with its own marina in 2013, along with being featured in the Pure Michigan magazine, that business began to take off. The Under the Radar
Chris Boyle, the owner of Port Austin Kayak and Pak’s Backyard. Boyle has run Port Austin Kayak since 2006, having it grow out of a hobby of his. (Chris Boyle/Courtesy Photo) public television program also featured Port Austin Kayak in an episode where host Tom Daldin went kayaking out to Turnip Rock. The seven-mile round trip route out to the rock off the coast is by far the most popular draw for the place. “People come from all over the world to see it,” Boyle said, describ-
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ing that people would visit Detroit, then drive out to Port Austin for a day to see Turnip Rock. “We get a lot of languages in the shop over the summer.” Right next to Port Austin Kayak is Pak’s Backyard, a restaurant and beer garden that started in 2015 out of converted space formerly used for retail. Boyle described it as having a beautiful view of Lake Huron not like anywhere else in the Thumb. “I had the space and needed to figure out how to pay for the
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space,” Boyle said. “You only got 90 days a year to make money in Port Austin, so to be able to have money for the rest of the year, I needed to bring in revenue from multiple sources.” Aside from these two businesses, Boyle is also in the process of buying the Buccaneer Den restaurant near Port Crescent State Park and adding a new Pak business, called Pak’s Garage, that will serve as a full-service bike repair shop and have space for other vendors. Even with the
COVID-19 pandemic that shut down the Upper Thumb in 2020, Boyle said that people still came out to kayak while Port Austin Kayak was making sure it was doing things safely. “People wanted to come out and kayak,” Boyle said, adding that the beer garden was able to serve lots of people outside as well. Boyle’s favorite part of the job is greeting people when they come back from kayaking after a few hours all tired and exhausted, but still saying that it was one of the best trips they
ever done. “It makes my day to see people that excited and happy about their experience on the Great Lakes,” Boyle said. Boyle also remarked how the help he brings in over the summer is his other favorite part of the job, as a lot of kids are brought in and make for a happy environment. “I enjoy employing all these people all summer,” Boyle said. “It gives kids a lot of opportunities to work for future jobs.”
I was looking for a hobby, something that was good for Port Austin that would give tourists something to do,” Boyle said. “I went kayaking one day and thought this was something nice to do.
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The 1900s era of the Oasis was kept by the new operators with old photos and Edison lights. The original bar, at left, with its brass footrest, also remains. (Courtesy Photo)
Lisa and Brian Enos reopened the Oasis Tavern at 261 N. State St., in downtown Caro. (Courtesy Photo)
Lisa and Brian Enos are leasing the Oasis Tavern in downtown Caro with an option to buy. They made a few basic changes and improvements, but overall the 1900s ambiance of the place remains the same. (Courtesy Photo)
Married to their work, the Enos’ are looking for success at the Oasis Mary Drier For the Tribune While a lot of people are married to their business, one Caro couple can say they were married in their business. Brian and Lisa Enos are leasing the Oasis Tavern at 261 N. State St., in downtown Caro. To be able to afford the business, the couple changed plans to have a smaller wedding and to have it sooner. “We were going to have a big wedding in July, and we were thinking about looking for a business to operate,” explained Lisa Enos. “We used to come here nearly every Saturday and Sunday to eat breakfast. About a year ago when we were here, a waitress said it was for sale and someone needed to buy it.” “A light bulb went on,” she said. “We were thinking about what we wanted to do, and decided we wanted to buy a business.” To make that happen, the wedding was down-
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sized. It was moved up to be held before business opened. “Brian’s cousin, Chris Slosser married us on New Year’s Eve in the Oasis,” Lisa said. “He is a minister in Bay City. We had a little family gathering for the wedding.” The couple reopened the restaurant last week. The previous owners, Ross Downing and Aaron Larkin, closed the doors in March 2020. “We are leasing the building with an option to buy,” Lisa said. “We took over the first part of December and have been doing some work until we opened this month.” The couple did some painting, updated the kitchen with a new stove and refrigerator, and added some flatscreen televisions. The building dates back to the early 1990s and the ambiance of that era that gives the Oasis its charm remains. It still has the original main bar with
its brass footrest and back bar along with “Oasis” etched in the glass. There is even a photo of the business from 1912 when it was a billiards hall. “We added some Edison lighting,” Lisa said. “We have several old pictures of Caro on the walls, and an old menu as well. Finding employees was hard before we could open.” “We are getting in the groove and working on meeting everyone’s expectations,” she said. “We are having fun.” Because they do not own the building, they cannot get a license to sell alcohol. The new business operators kept most all of the menu offerings, and added a few new ones like skillets, baking their own brisket for corn beef hash, and homemade chips. The Oasis Tavern is open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. For more information or to place a take-out order, call 989-6737380.
A light bulb went on,” she said. “We were thinking about what to do, and decided we wanted to buy a business.
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Thumb Hardware & Appliance Owner Dennis Ropp said he was humbled to own a business that was declared essential. (Scott Nunn/Tribune File Photo)
Thumb Hardware maintained an inventory of appliances throughout the pandemic despite increased demand and production shortages. (Scott Nunn/Tribune File Photo)
THUMB HARDWARE & APPLIANCE continued from page 3 benefit to the community.” Because the business was essential, Ropp didn’t have to lay off any employees, but he said hiring quality employees in today’s business climate is challenging. “It was a challenge,” he said. “It would have been nicer if I didn’t have to sit here all Sunday, but I kind of resigned to the fact
that was the way it was going to be.” Ropp said he faced many challenges getting inventory at times, especially with appliances during the pandemic. “We are kind rethinking things and trying to get ahead of the game,” he said. “You hate to run a business and stockpile things, but now you sell and you might not see it for six to eight weeks.” According to Ropp,
the shortages in inventory forced him to purchase some fancier models that he usually wouldn’t. However, because of demands based on needs, he was able to move the appliances. “When it comes down to it and people need something, they are willing to compromise,” he said. Ropp said the Speed Queen line of appliances that he carries at the store was subjected to
fewer issues with inventory shortages than other brands. He said while the Speed Queen appliances are more money than some of the other brands, customers were happy to pay more for the reputation and longer warranty the brand offers. “They didn’t run into COVID issues that the others had, until later in the year,” Ropp said. “For a while when we had no Maytag, no Whirlpool and no GE you could still get a Speed Queen. You are paying a little more money for it, but the value is there. You pay a few hundred dollars more but you get a longer warranty and it’s a heavier built machine.” “I notice it every time I deliver them, that they are a heavier than any of the other ones,” Ropp said laughing. “You ache a little bit more after delivering them.” The inventory shortages were experienced also on the hardware
side of the business, especially seasonal items. “Once the supply chain went down it was hard to get some things refilled,” Ropp said. “It was a challenge. On one hand it was an adrenaline rush going through something like that, but at some point it wears on you both physically and psychologically.” Ropp is hopeful that the personal service offered at the businesses that continued to serve the public through the pandemic despite the challenges will be remembered by their customers after the pandemic is over. “Using the Hitching Post as an example, bar wise they were shut down, but they were doing takeout food,” Ropp said. “The people around here appreciated it when a holiday would roll around and you’re not gathering as a big family, but he was going in and putting on a Christmas dinner and doing it takeout and selling out of stuff.”
Ropp looks forward to a post-pandemic time. “I see there are towns making tentative plans, which is the positive thing to do,” “Hopefully things hold true, we can all get vaccinated, and people can get out and about again.” The demand and appreciation Thumb Hardware & Appliance was show during the pandemic left Ropp with strong feelings. “It has been humbling,” Ropp said. “It keeps your ego in check knowing there are so many people that are dependent on this store. You would think it would go the other way but it means that you need to keep doing what you are doing.” Thumb Hardware & Appliance is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The business is located at 23 N. Main St. in Elkton.
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It has been humbling,”
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Ropp said. “It keeps your ego in check knowing there are so many people that are dependent on this store. You would think it would go the other way but it means that you need to keep doing what you are doing.”
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