Brodeurs, Spatas Buy Sweet Shop
By Bernie Nguyen

Tony and Shannon Brodeur behind the counter at Martha's Sweet Shop.

The little downtown bakery has changed hands once again. Martha's Sweet Shop, which for years has been known on the Island for its sugary baked goods, is now under the ownership of Tony and Loretta Spata and Tony and Shannon Brodeur, who purchased the Shop from Mandy Taylor last winter.

Mr. Brodeur, who does the majority of the baking and runs the shop on a daily basis, said the family has been concentrating on perfecting everything Ms. Taylor did when she owned the shop, and are using the original recipes of Martha Graning, who was the shop's first owner.

Mr. Brodeur said that the adjustment to the new business has been eased by Ms. Taylor's presence, who, before the season started, gave the new owners a crash course in how to run a bakery.

"She came down for two weeks and helped us out with learning the business," Mr. Brodeur said, adding that she also helped them with adapting to the timing and schedule of baking fresh muffins and cookies every morning.

The shop's cinnamon rolls and blueberry muffins are among its most popular items, he noted, and toward the later part of the summer when the weather gets hot, the ice cream is an often-sought relief from the heat. But, he said, one of the Shop's biggest sellers is coffee, especially in the morning when downtown employees stop by for a hot cup.

"My favorite part is just getting to talk to everybody that I normally don't get to see," Mr. Brodeur said.

While Mr. Brodeur is involved in the day to day operations, Mrs. Brodeur will be in charge of the wedding and specialty cake-decorating, which is a new addition to the

whose husband teaches at Mackinac Island Public School and who also worked with Ms. Taylor, has been helping out weekly and will take a greater role once the season gets underway.

The Spatas will take a more behind-the-scenes role in the bakery.

Mr. Brodeur said the shop is once again selling pizza and he may offer cold sandwiches.

Martha's Sweet Shop is on Main Street and will be open every day from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Friday, May 26, when it extends its hours to 10 p.m.