The corner of Lakeshore Drive and Bay Street in Brimley has seen many changes over the years. What started out as half-Doran's Market and half-Bob's Sales and Service has become Bay Mart.
Ironically, Bob Harris, the owner of Bob's Sales and Service is now a store clerk at Bay Mart. Even more ironic, Ray Baragwanath, one of Harris' former clerks, is the manager of Bay Mart.
Harris opened Bob's Sales and Service in 1970, leasing space from the Dorans who owned and ran the convenience store half of the building. Harris ran the side with the gas pumps and mechanic bays.
The business was sold to Jack Swan in 1978 and he ran a convenience store until Bay Mills Indian Community purchased the site in 1997.
Bay Mart opened its doors in March 1998, offering gas, diesel, propane, bait, snacks and other convenience store fare with various arts and crafts, some by local artists.
Store Manager Ray Baragwanath has been with Bay Mart since its opening, but has been in the convenience store business since 1966. He not only worked for Harris at Bob's Sales and Service, but owned and operated his own store, R.C. Shell, in Strongs, Mich.
Baragwanath said he enjoys his job as Bay Mart manager. He said the local patronage is what keeps them going and the store's convenient location makes it ideal for locals and out-of-town visitors.
The Bay Mart location has seen many changes since the days of Bob's Sales and Service and more changes are in the works. Bay Mills Computers just installed a computer network tower behind the store to network Bay Mart with the rest of the tribe. This allows tribal gas discounts to be stored on an off-site computer, conforming to state requirements. Because of this, Bay Mart employees can no longer enter tribal numbers and must have the actual tribal card to swipe through the machine.
Another change in the works is the switching over from a Mobile station to BP. Baragwanath said that they're switching for several reasons. Not only is BP gasoline a couple of pennies cheaper, but the BP credit cards are cheaper to carry.
“It's a stronger and bigger outfit,” he said, adding that BP is now the largest gas distributor in the country. “All in all, it seems like a good switch.”
When he isn't working at Bay Mart, Baragwanath enjoys camping, fishing, hunting and spending time with his family, which includes wife of 34 years, Cheryl, seven children, eight grandchildren and numerous foster kids and foster grandkids.
Baragwanath's former employer, Harris, began working at Bay Mart in 2000, after retiring from Lynn Auto Parts in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. Harris said he likes working for Bay Mills and has really enjoyed renewing old friendships with people in the area.
When he's not working, Harris likes camping, fishing, hunting and winning at the casino.
“We're an outdoor team, my wife and I,” he said, adding that he has been married to Pat for 53 years.
He also enjoys spending time with his three children, nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
