FAIRGROVE, MI – Just outside of Bay County, there’s a hidden gem filled with unique historic pieces, repurposed items, games, cold beverages and of course, great bar food.
Bay Shore Bar & Grill, located at 9432 Bay City Forestville Road in Tuscola County’s Fairgrove, is an establishment where guests never get bored while dining.
Mike Jansen designed it that way after purchasing the bar and riverfront property in 2016.
When he acquired it, Jansen said he and the staff removed all the decor and cleaned it from top to bottom because it had been a smoking bar.
Jansen then got the opportunity to put his collecting hobby to use by decorating the walls and ceiling in the bar area, on the patio and across the outdoor space.
“It only takes two to have a collection. So, most of the stuff I put up here were things that I had that I had duplicates of,” Jansen said.
The current building was constructed in 1973, and the bathrooms were original when Jansen took over. He has since remodeled both bathrooms, repurposing a pump organ as a sink vanity in one and tackle boxes as sinks in the other.
Another unique detail: the restroom doors are covered in license plates.
“When you touch the door, your mind is going to say, ‘I’m at the Bay Shore,’” Jansen said.
Jansen also brought in more natural light to brighten the space, and to show off the artistic black ceiling he said people rave about.
The patio walls are made of matching screen doors that Jansen bought from an apartment complex.
“There’s value in other people’s junk or trash. I don’t throw much away. There’s something I can do with it at a later date,” Jansen said.
Originally, the bar had more of a motorcycle theme to it because that’s what Jansen had collected at the time, but now it features more neon and light-up beer signs, vintage logos and repurposed items.
The Bay Shore dates back to the late 1930s, Jansen said. He has liquor licenses from that time under the name Bay Shore Tavern.
The previous owners ran the business for more than 30 years, and the Bay Shore has always been known for its fish fry Fridays.
Jansen grew up in Caseville, a town once known for its perch, he said. So, he knows what to look for in a perch dinner.
“The history of the Friday night fish fry was part of the reason I bought it, and we make every effort to maintain it,” Jansen said.
The bar sources perch from Lake Erie and serve pounds of it during every fish fry.
Some of the other popular menu items include nachos, burgers and wings.
The outdoor space includes a barge on the Quanicassee River, allowing customer to dock their boats to visit the Bay Shore.
There are two covered outdoor stages, cornhole and an arcade-style basketball game. Inside, there is free pool and darts, so there’s always something to do.
“We’re at the peak; there’s all sorts of stuff here available to do. It’s just getting the cars to stop,” Jansen said.
The Bay Shore Bar & Grill is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day. The kitchen closes at 9 p.m. daily.
Check out their Facebook page here for more information.