Some Michigan shoppers drive past big chain grocery stores on purpose, heading down a country road near Clare with an empty trunk and a long list. Their reward is a small Amish-run market where flour comes in 50 pound bags, cucumbers have sold for under fifty cents, and a footlong sub has run about $12.
Michiganders from as far as Northern Michigan say the trip pays for itself. Here is everything worth knowing before you load up the car.
A Country Market Off Colonville Road
Out on a quiet stretch of road in mid-Michigan sits a store that plenty of Michiganders have never heard of. Its name is Yoder’s Kuntry Market Bulk Foods, and it stands at 7534 E Colonville Rd, Clare, MI 48617, in the United States.
On paper, it is listed as a supermarket. In practice, it is a little Amish store and sandwich shop rolled into one tidy building.
Shoppers come here for bulk pantry goods, spices, baking supplies, seasonal produce, homemade jams, and a deli counter that has built a loyal following of its own.
Clare sits close to the middle of the Lower Peninsula, which makes the market a handy stop for families heading north on weekend trips. One shopper found it simply by searching for Amish stores while staying up in nearby Harrison for the weekend.
That kind of happy accident is common here. People stumble in once, and then they start planning return trips around it.
The store holds a 4.9 out of 5 score across 178 Google ratings, which is the sort of number that tends to raise eyebrows. For a modest country market, that level of praise is no small potatoes.
So what keeps people driving the back roads to get here? The answer starts with the store’s simple way of doing business.
The Plain-Spoken Spirit Behind the Counter
Nothing about this place tries too hard. It is an Amish-run market, and the sandwiches are made on the spot by hardworking Amish women behind the deli counter.
The store is described again and again as very clean, with helpful staff and smiling faces at the register.
Friendliness comes up so often that it almost feels like part of the inventory. Cashiers are known for being kind, and the staff are happy to help shoppers find what they need.
There is also a practical streak in how the store works. If a regular cannot find a certain grain or specialty item, they can call ahead, and the store will try to get it for them.
That small courtesy says a lot. It turns a quick shopping stop into something closer to a neighborly relationship.
The market’s website listing sits under a directory called Just Plain Business, which fits the mood nicely. There are no flashy displays here, just shelves stocked with useful goods and people who know them well.
For Michigan families who prefer a straightforward shopping trip over a giant parking lot and twenty checkout lanes, that simplicity is a big part of the charm. It is shopping with the frills trimmed off and the value left in.
Fifty Pound Bags and a Baker’s Paradise
Home bakers, take note. The flour aisle here does not mess around.
All purpose and bread flours come in 50 pound bags, and smaller packages are available for anyone without a full pantry wall to fill. Sugar and popcorn also come in both big bags and more manageable sizes.
Baking supplies are one of the most talked about strengths of the store. Regulars call the selection some of the best anywhere, with prices to match.
Grain fans get attention too. Wheat berries and other grains are a reason some shoppers make this their go-to stop, especially those who mill or bake from scratch at home.
Cornmeal, brown sugar, grits, and pectin all line the shelves. For anyone who cans, bakes, or simply likes a well-stocked cupboard, the store has been called a canner’s dream.
The appeal is easy to understand. Buying in bulk at a lower price means fewer trips to town and more money left in the family budget.
Even shoppers who only bake a few times a year can grab a small bag of something useful. Nobody is forced to haul home 50 pounds, though plenty of people happily do.
It is the kind of aisle that turns casual bakers into serious ones, one bag at a time.
Spices, Teas, and Snacks at Small-Town Prices
Spice racks at chain grocery stores can make a wallet nervous. Here, the story is different.
Spices are sold at a much cheaper price than regular grocery stores charge, and the bulk and spice section is packed with options.
Loose leaf teas are on hand as well, in both regular and herbal varieties. Shoppers who brew at home often add a few to the cart while stocking up on other basics.
Snack lovers have plenty to browse. Nuts, dried fruits, and candies fill the shelves, and many snacks come packed in containers that sell for cheap.
Pasta, organic items, and natural products round out the dry goods. The variety surprises first-timers who expect a tiny country shop with a handful of shelves.
For budget-minded Michiganders, this section is where the real savings stack up. A single trip can refill a spice cabinet, a tea drawer, and a snack bin without the sticker shock.
Prices may vary from season to season, so it is smart to bring a list and keep an eye out for what is freshly stocked. Still, the overall reputation here leans firmly toward fair and friendly pricing.
Consider it a pantry tune-up that will not leave you seasoning your budget with regret.
Subs That Send Michiganders Off the Highway
Ask around about this place, and the conversation turns to subs fast. With dozens of mentions, they are easily the store’s most famous item.
Subs are built to order with fresh cut meats, cheeses, and veggies, and they come in 6 inch or footlong sizes.
Portions are generous. Some say a 6 inch sub carries enough fillings to pass for a footlong, and the 12 inch version comes with a friendly warning to arrive hungry.
Prices have stayed reasonable. An Italian sub went for $10.99 and was so filling that a couple could only finish half, while footlongs have been about $12, and an older price of $8.99 shows how long the value has held.
A maple mustard is a popular topping choice. Plenty of fans say they are done with chain sandwich shops after one visit here.
A soup of the day also rotates through the menu, typically offered from fall through spring. A paper menu lists the deli meats, cheeses, sandwich options, and prices.
Not every sub is identical, of course. Generosity with slices can depend on who is behind the counter, so results may vary slightly by the day.
Even so, for a lunch stop on a Michigan road trip, few deals stack up quite this tall.
Deli Specials Worth Stocking the Fridge
Sandwich lunches are only half the deli story. The counter also sells meats and cheeses by weight for folks who want to take the goods home.
A weekly cheese and meat special is a popular pick, and it has earned praise for being priced extremely fair.
Some first-time shoppers say the deli prices are the best they have seen in a long time. That kind of value matters for families packing lunches all week.
Since the paper menu lists every meat and cheese along with its price, there is no guesswork at the counter. Shoppers can plan a budget before they even order.
Many regulars treat the deli as a regular stop on a bigger pantry run. Grab bulk flour, a bag of spices, a pound or two of sliced cheese, and a sub for the ride home.
The deli counter can get busy around lunchtime, especially on weekends. Arriving a bit earlier in the day may mean a shorter wait.
For a family trying to stretch the grocery budget, the weekly special can be a smart anchor for the shopping list. It is a cold case that delivers some warm feelings toward your bank balance.
Sweet Shelves and Seasonal Finds
Save some room in the cart, because the sweet side of the store is hard to ignore. Homemade jams, jellies, and fruit butters line the shelves alongside homemade candies.
Baked goods are another draw, with cinnamon rolls, whoopie pies, and fry pies all earning mentions.
One fan declared the cinnamon roll the best found anywhere. To be fair, some shoppers note the baked goods are shipped in from another location rather than baked on site, so expectations may vary.
Hand dipped ice cream adds another treat to the lineup. It is a fun reward for kids who patiently waited through a long pantry run.
Bulk candy gets plenty of love too. The selection is wide enough to satisfy grandparents hunting for old favorites and kids eyeing something new.
Fresh produce changes with the calendar. Prices on produce have been strikingly low, including cucumbers around 44 cents and big onions around 70 cents.
In autumn, pumpkins and mums arrive, and they have been called exceptional. That makes fall a lovely time to swing through for both groceries and porch decorations.
Homemade soap and breads like jalapeno cheddar also turn up on shelves. Every visit seems to offer one more little surprise to carry home.
Hours, Timing, and Road Trip Tips
Planning matters with a small country store, because the schedule is not the same as a big-box grocery. Here is how the week breaks down.
The market opens at 8 am Monday through Saturday. It closes at 5 pm Monday through Friday and at 4 pm on Saturday.
Sunday is a day off, so the doors stay shut. A Sunday drive out to Colonville Road will only get you a nice view of the countryside.
Bringing a cooler is a smart move for anyone buying deli meats, cheeses, or ice cream. Families coming from Grand Rapids, Lansing, or the Detroit area will thank themselves on the drive home.
Big bags of flour and sugar take up trunk space, so clear room before you leave. It is a small step that saves a lot of shuffling in the parking lot.
For special requests, calling ahead can help. The store has been willing to track down items it does not normally stock.
Lunchtime tends to bring a crowd at the deli. Arriving in the morning makes it easier to shop the bulk aisles at a relaxed pace.
Clare also makes a handy midpoint for trips farther north. Many travelers simply build the stop into a weekend drive up I-75 or US-127.
Why This Back-Road Market Earns a Spot on the Map
Some stops are worth a detour because they are flashy. This one earns it by being honest, affordable, and useful.
Yoder’s offers what budget-minded Michiganders value most: fair prices, generous portions, friendly people, and shelves full of everyday goods.
It is not perfect for every taste. Baked goods arrive from another location, and deli generosity can depend on who is slicing that day.
Still, the bigger picture is hard to argue with. Bulk flour, cheap spices, seasonal produce, and hearty subs all under one modest roof make for a strong case.
Families stocking up for the season will find plenty to fill the trunk. Retirees on a scenic drive will find a relaxed lunch and a few homemade treats to bring back.
Shoppers from Northern Michigan say it is worth the drive down, and plenty of first-timers leave planning their next visit. That kind of loyalty does not happen by accident.
So next time the pantry runs low, consider skipping the usual chain store. Point the car toward Clare, bring a cooler and a list, and let this little Amish market show how far a grocery budget can really go.