SAGINAW COUNTY, MI – A new Dollar Tree store is slated to open at the site of a former Rite Aid store in Saginaw Township.
In other news, a popular cookie shop has announced plans to close its Bay City location next month, leaving the nearly 10-year-old business with one remaining bakery.
Learn more about these stories and other Saginaw County and Bay County news with these recent headlines:
What’s that? New Dollar Tree coming to former Rite Aid
An 11,000-square-foot building in Saginaw Township that used to be home to a Rite Aid is being transformed into a Dollar Tree.
The store, located at 3050 Bay Road, is next to Fast Eddie’s Car Wash and Oil Change and across the street from Walgreens.
The new development comes more than a year after the pharmacy chain closed all its Michigan stores, leaving the 30-year-old building vacant.
The Saginaw Township Planning Commission approved a site plan for the project in August.
Dollar Tree signage can already be seen at the property, but it is still unclear when the new discount store will open.
Planned changes to the building include reconfiguring its interior and minor exterior improvements, according to Saginaw Township Assistant Director of Community Development Ray Hausbeck.
Read the full story here.
Heidi’s Darn Good Cookies closing in Bay City
Local cookie lovers are saying goodbye to Heidi’s Darn Good Cookies’ Bay City location, which is set to close permanently on Feb. 14.
Although the Bay City location is closing, Heidi’s Darn Good Cookies plans to continue operating its Kochville Township cookie shop, located at 2903 Pierce Road. The Kochville Township location is near Saginaw Valley State University and just a short drive from the business’s Bay City cookie shop.
The bakery informed customers of the decision to close the shop, located at 1590 S. Euclid Ave., in a Facebook post on Thursday, Jan. 15. The statement cited owner Heidi Niernberg’s desire to spend more time outside of the bakery and with family.
“To our incredible Bay City cookie lovers, thank you,” the post reads. “We can’t wait to see you in Saginaw, same cookies, same love, just a new chapter.”
Read the full story here.
Saginaw’s Miles Market offers doughnuts to cocktails under one roof
There are few places where you can get a homemade doughnut, an eggs Benedict dish, a flatbread, a smashburger and a cocktail all in one place.
But that’s exactly what Miles Market, located at 6235 Gratiot Road, offers.
Miles Market opened in September 2023, the bar opened in 2024 and the extended hours with some dinner options launched in 2025.
General manager Missy Pococke said they plan to add more to the dinner menu with dishes featuring a ‘Miles Market twist.’
“They love it, we love it, it’s very busy,” Pococke said.
Read the full story here.
New Dunkin’ part of proposed State Street Kroger remodel
The Kroger in Saginaw Township’s Green Acres Plaza plans to undergo a remodel that would include the addition of a Dunkin’, formerly Dunkin’ Donuts, inside.
Plans for the project include the construction of a kiosk adjacent to the store’s floral section and deli preparation area modifications, according to Saginaw Township Assistant Director of Community Development Ray Hausbeck.
It is unclear when construction will begin at the store, located at 4672 State St., but plans for the project were submitted to the township, which is now in the process of reviewing them.
Read the full story here.
New eatery, liquor lounge now open at Chesaning’s former Showboat Restaurant
A new eatery and liquor lounge is now open at the former site of Chesaning’s Showboat Restaurant, which closed in 2025 after serving customers for almost five decades.
Restore 242 Eatery, located at 242 W. Broad St., officially opened its doors on Dec. 31. The restaurant is owned by Chef Tyler Frelitz.
“It’s been like a relief and a bit of stress off my shoulders to get it open, but to get us here has been the biggest challenge I think I’ve ever faced in my life,” Frelitz said.
Read the full story here.
New owners take over Saginaw neighborhood dive bar, offering live music, themed nights and ‘good prices’
Tucked into a neighborhood on the West Side waits a remodeled dive bar ready to welcome all.
Maple Gardens, 1020 Maple St., opened decades ago, according to co-owner Jennifer Montpas-Gross.
Montpas-Gross and her husband, Greg Gross, acquired the bar in March. Their goal is to create a comfortable space for people to get together and enjoy great food and drinks for a lower price.
“That’s one of our featured, I think, items that brings people in, is our good prices,” Montpas-Gross said. “I’m super excited to bring some additional business and growth into this community.”
Read the full story here.
What’s that? Spa chain plans site in this Saginaw County building
A national spa chain is planned to open along one of Saginaw Township’s busiest commercial districts.
Signage outside a Saginaw Township commercial suite at 5709 State stated the unit will house a local branch of Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa.
“Coming soon,” the signage stated. No additional details were available about the timing of the planned opening of the spa.
The suite is located within the same two-unit building where a Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurant opened in October 2025, near the State and Wieneke intersection.
Read the full story here.
After old Walgreens demolished in Saginaw, here’s what’s planned there next
A property near Saginaw’s riverside will trade in Slurpees for pharmaceuticals this year, officials said.
On the southeast corner of the North Michigan and West Genesee avenues intersection, crews in recent weeks began demolishing a building that once housed a Walgreens store.
The rubble remains piled on the property.
But a new development will rise there, likely by the end of 2026, said Cassi Zimmerman, Saginaw City Hall’s director of planning and economic development.
Read the full story here.
‘Midland St. Banh Mi’ sandwich is a hit at new Bay City lunch spot
After opening a sushi restaurant to share his love for Japanese cuisine, owner Roy Pfund has done it again with a new sandwich shop.
Pfund’s Sandwich Co., 508 E. Midland St., opened to the public on Dec. 3.
The sandwich shop is a part of the 500 Block building, which also includes the Japanese-forward restaurant, Izakaya, and an event space, Chapterhouse.
“I just like to have a good lunch sandwich sometimes, and I don’t really always want to sit down for a long meal,” Pfund said. “So, I was like, ‘Let’s make something where people can come in on their lunch break and zip in here and get something quality.’”
Read the full story here.
