Fried pies in all kinds of flavors show up on Fridays and Saturdays at one Amish store in southern Michigan. Cherry is the flavor people keep bringing up.
That alone might justify a drive.
The same shelves hold bulk flour, sugar, oats, spices and herbs. There’s cheese, fresh bread and gluten-free baking mixes too.
It’s an Old Order Amish shop that doubles as a bakery and a pantry.
I like how practical it all feels. You come for staples and leave with a warm loaf you didn’t plan on buying.
I can’t imagine many errands that smell this good.
The store sits out on a quiet country road, and the drive is part of the charm. So what makes one small Amish shop worth circling on your weekend map?
An Old Order Amish Shop On A Quiet Country Road
Countryside Bakery & Bulk Foods is the kind of place a friend tells you about at work. It’s an Old Order Amish store near Homer, in the rolling farm country of south-central Michigan.
The setup is simple and handy. Half of it works as a bakery, and the other half works as a grocery stocked with bulk goods.
That combo matters more than you’d think. You can grab baking flour by the bag and then grab something already baked on the way out.
The store is family run. Visitors keep describing the folks behind the counter as polite, friendly and genuinely helpful.
It also holds a 4.7-star rating on Google, which is impressive for a small rural shop. Friendly staff is the most mentioned topic, ahead of even the pies.
Some longtime shoppers say the store has grown over the years. Shelves look far fuller now than older photos suggest.
Small setting, quiet mood, big pantry energy. It’s a Michigan stop that rewards anyone who likes cooking, baking or simply eating well without fuss.
Think of it as a country errand with a sweet payoff. The rest of the story mostly lives on those shelves.
Fried Pies Worth Planning Your Friday Around
Friday and Saturday carry a special kind of weight here. That’s when the bakery turns out fried pies in a whole range of flavors.
Shoppers single out cherry as the standout. One fan calls the hand pies the best around, and plenty of others seem to agree.
Fried pies are the handheld cousin of a regular slice. They’re tidy, portable and dangerously easy to eat in the car before you reach the highway.
Some families have turned them into a weekly ritual. One shopper mentions picking up little fruit pies nearly every Friday.
Full-size pies earn plenty of love too. Pies rank among the most talked-about items connected to the store.
One small warning keeps this honest. Shoppers note that Saturday donuts and pies aren’t made in January or February.
So a midwinter pie run may end in disappointment. Plan your craving for the other ten months, and you should be in good shape.
Good luck ignoring that Friday reminder once it lands in your head. A cherry hand pie on a Michigan back road is a pretty fine way to start the weekend.
Saturday Morning Donuts That Disappear Fast
Early birds get the glaze. At least one fan once called these the best glazed donuts in Michigan on Saturday mornings.
That same shopper offered practical advice. Get there early, because the donuts tend to go fast.
More recent praise keeps the hype alive. One visitor calls the donuts phenomenal, complete with a string of exclamation points.
Donuts show up among the store’s popular topics alongside pies. That tells you the morning bakery case carries serious weight.
Here’s the timing to remember. The store opens at 9 a.m. on Saturdays and closes at 4 p.m.
Arriving near opening seems like the smart move if donuts are your mission. A late afternoon stroll may still reward you with bread or cookies instead.
And yes, the same winter rule applies. Saturday donuts take a break in January and February, according to shoppers.
I believe a box of fresh glazed donuts makes any drive feel shorter. It turns a pantry restock into a small family event.
Bring a napkin for the ride home. Glaze has a talent for ending up on steering wheels.
Bread That Changes Breakfast Habits
One husband reportedly quit English muffins altogether. The reason was the English muffin bread his family found here.
That’s the power of a good loaf. The bakery’s homemade breads keep drawing loyal fans back to this corner of Michigan.
White bread gets its own shout-out from shoppers. It’s paired with the cherry hand pies as some of the best around.
Cinnamon rolls deserve attention too. One visitor praised fresh-baked pecan cinnamon rolls as dense, very flavorful and delicious.
Cookies and other pastries round out the case. Shoppers mention walking out with arms full of bread, cookies and more.
Visitors also describe the shop as smelling like fresh bread and pie. That’s a hard welcome to beat on a chilly morning.
A loaf from Countryside Bakery & Bulk Foods can carry you through a week of toast. Pair it with something sweet, and breakfast suddenly feels like an occasion.
Variety may shift day to day, as small bakeries often do. Grab what looks good when you see it, because hesitation rarely pays off at a busy bakery counter.
Bulk Bins For Serious Bakers And Pantry Planners
Flour, sugar and oats by the bag sound simple. For home bakers, though, that’s the dream shopping list.
Countryside Bakery & Bulk Foods carries those staples and many other ingredients. One regular calls it a great place for bulk baking basics.
Dried goods earn steady praise as well. Shoppers mention a great selection, which makes it easy to stock a pantry in one stop.
Healthier choices have room on the shelves. The store offers organic options and items described as all natural.
Gluten-free shoppers get real attention here. One visitor’s wife has a gluten allergy, and the store carries a wide variety of gluten-free mixes and flour.
That’s a big deal in a rural area. Specialty baking supplies aren’t always easy to find outside larger towns.
Both bulk and non-bulk items share the space. That mix helps you finish a whole grocery run without a second stop.
Some shoppers flat out call it their go-to for bulk food. When your pantry runs low, that kind of reliability feels like a small Michigan treasure.
Spices, Herbs And A Wedge Of Good Cheese
Spice racks at chain stores can feel like tiny luxury jars. Here, shoppers point to a great selection of spices at low prices.
Herbs get a mention too. Visitors list lots of spices, herbs and bulk foods among the store’s strengths.
That’s welcome news for anyone refilling cinnamon before holiday baking. It also helps the cook who burns through garlic powder every month.
Cheese sits high on the list of things worth grabbing. One shopper calls it amazing, and cheese appears among the store’s popular topics.
A block of cheese plus fresh bread makes an easy lunch. It’s also a solid start for a backyard snack board.
Essential oils show up as another surprise. One visitor noted they’re sold at a good price.
Shoppers describe the overall variety of wares as large. That variety helps explain why a quick stop can turn into a longer browse.
I like how the store mixes everyday basics with little extras. You might arrive for paprika and leave with cheese, oils and a cookie or two.
Fair Prices, Friendly Faces And A Peaceful Pace
One shopper braced for a big bill and pulled out three twenties. The arm load of cheese, bread and cookies came in well under that.
Great prices come up again and again. Shoppers call them reasonable, excellent and fantastic.
The mood matches the prices. Visitors describe the store as pleasant, quiet and small.
Friendly staff is the store’s top-mentioned topic. Shoppers describe the owner as polite and helpful.
That calm vibe suits a slow Saturday browse. It also works well for families teaching kids where good bread comes from.
Bakers will feel right at home. So will budget-minded cooks and anyone who loves Amish country stops in Michigan.
Keep the setting in mind and shop respectfully. It’s an Old Order Amish business, and a simple, courteous visit fits the spirit of the place.
The Amish really do know business, one visitor noted. Low prices and warm service make a convincing case for that claim.
It’s easy to see why some shoppers miss it after moving away. A fair deal plus friendly faces sticks with people.
What To Know Before You Head Down 28 Mile Road
Cash matters here. Shoppers have described the store as a cash-only kind of place, so bring some just in case.
You’ll find Countryside Bakery & Bulk Foods at 3878 28 Mile Rd, Homer, MI 49245. It sits in the countryside of south-central Michigan.
Hours run 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Saturday hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the store is closed Sunday.
Schedules may shift around holidays or seasons. Checking ahead can help before a long drive.
Timing your trip pays off. Fried pies appear Friday and Saturday, while Saturday mornings bring the donuts.
Skip January and February if pies and donuts top your list. Bulk goods and bread should still be worth the stop.
Visitors say the country drive is worth the trip on its own. Quiet roads and open farmland make a relaxing ride.
So is it worth it? For bakers, snackers and pantry planners, I’d say absolutely.
Grab a cherry hand pie, fill a bag with flour, and enjoy the slow road home.
