bakekrazy

I fell in  love with the little stone bakery building in Port Sanilac as I drove by it over 8 years ago. The building even though run down slightly, with its wooden porch and old windows had that feel about it that you get when things feel right. The building was for sale on an online auction, so I stayed up late at my shop that night in Clinton Township (Flamingo Label) an entered the online auction. Even though the bid went higher than I anticipated I won the bid. Now was the beginning of a whole new experience. The building was last occupied by bakery and I thought that was exactly what I was going to do, a Seasonal Bakery.  I have owned several businesses including a full service restaurant  in East Tawas and a pizza take-out in Washington Township, Mi.,  how hard could this be. There was nothing in the building but an old bread slicer you had to have a fork life to pick up so I understood why they left it. I found that the building needed a few things; new roof, new heating system, new windows, so after a little investment I was off and running. As I worked on the building to bring it back to life there were plenty of locals with advice. The first thing I heard was are you going to make donuts? I thought about that for a little while and decided that making donuts was exactly what I was going to do. I looked around and discovered that one of the best production donut machine was a Belshaw Mark six conveyor. After searching around I purchased the machine. When it arrived I discovered that I only had single phase electrical in the building and I needed three phase for it to work. Detroit Edison the local utility company told me after they conducted a survey of the area that it would cost me around $3000.00 to bring it into the building. I also discovered that I needed a make up air system, exhaust hood, new electrical interior box and fire suppression system and of course paying to have everything hooked up.  Well I’m this far, why stop, so I went ahead and got things rolling. In the mean time I also purchased sinks, ovens, proofers, mixers, tables, and a whole lot of baking equipment too long to list. Over the years I also installed a handicapped porch and siding. The building dates back to at least 1938 when it was a library and at one time the fire department and city offices were there. When you enter the building you are confronted with hard wood floors, knotty pine walls and if it weren’t for the smell of the fresh baked donuts you could still smell the scent of the library. I hope you will have the opportunity to come and visit us this summer at the Bake Krazy Bakery downtown Port Sanilac, Mi and enjoy this little village on the shores of Lake Huron where you can relax all summer long while watching the sun rise each morning.

Chef Brian Klauss