The Clare City Bakery, operating out of its historic location at 521 North McEwan Street, is one of Michigan's oldest continuously operating bakeries and a cornerstone of downtown Clare's municipal history.
Early History and the Foss Era
1896 Establishment: The foundation business was originally opened in downtown Clare in 1896, serving as a primary supplier of fresh bread and baked goods to the growing railway and logging community.
The Foss Family: In 1907, baker J.E. Foss took over the downtown bakery operations. Following his tenure, his wife Jennie Foss and her sons assumed control of the property in 1941, anchoring the establishment within the same family for nearly six decades.
Late 20th Century Transitions: The Foss family sold the operation in 1965 to Charles and Maxine Palshan, who managed the downtown staple for 25 years before a succession of late-90s and early-2000s independent owners took charge.
The 2009 Crisis and Police Rescue
Threat of Closure: In early 2009, severe economic recession put the historic 113-year-old business within weeks of permanent closure, threatening yet another empty storefront in the downtown district.
The Nine Officers: In response to the economic threat, all nine full-time members of the Clare City Police Department banded together to buy out the business, preventing its historic lineage from ending.
Capital Investment: Each officer contributed personal funds to buy and remodel the property, transitioning it from a struggling traditional bakery into an economic driver for Clare County tourism.
Reincarnation as Cops & Doughnuts
Corporate Rebranding: On July 1, 2009, the business officially reopened its doors under the moniker “Cops & Doughnuts - Clare City Bakery,” utilizing playful, police-themed marketing to embrace the identity of its new owners.
Product Line Puns: The bakery expanded its traditional offerings to include widely publicized novelty items such as the “Felony Fritter,” “The Squealer,” and “The Nightstick,” alongside custom-branded merchandise.
The Cop Shop Expansion: The massive influx of regional travelers prompted the owners to expand operations into adjacent downtown storefronts, establishing a dedicated souvenir and apparel store known as the “Cop Shop.”
Regional Expansion and Legacy
The Precinct System: Capitalizing on its viral success, the Clare-headquartered enterprise expanded across Michigan by establishing additional regional branch locations—referred to as “Precincts”—in Mount Pleasant, Gaylord, and Bay City, alongside numerous rural retail “Sub-Stations.”
Economic Revitalization: The preservation of the Clare City Bakery landmark is widely cited as a primary catalyst for 21st-century municipal tourism and commercial revitalization within downtown Clare.