Cherry Republic, the iconic purveyor of all things cherry and one of the largest cherry retailers in Michigan, has expanded its footprint in the Mitten.
The cherry snack-and-beverage company has opened a store in the heart of tourist-driven Mackinaw City. The new store, which celebrates a grand opening this weekend – June 20-22 – is strategically located on East Central Avenue – the main downtown thoroughfare – to capture “all that fantastic tourist traffic heading to the Upper Peninsula” and to take advantage of “Mackinaw City’s status as a beloved Northern Michigan destination,” says Sara Harding, who is the company’s vice president of marketing and impact.
“Our Mackinaw City store is positioned as "the perfect place to stock up on your favorite cherry goodies before heading north—or while enjoying all this vibrant lakeside town has to offer,” Harding says.
What’s happening: Cherry Republic has opened its seventh store – in Mackinaw City. The company was founded in 1989 in Glen Arbor, where its destination campus includes a cherry-themed winery, pub and restaurant, retail and more. Cherry Republic also has stores in Traverse City, Charlevoix, Ann Arbor, Frankenmuth, and Holland.
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Traverse City TourismThe Cherry Republic campus in Glen Arbor.“Our Mackinaw City store has that same irresistible Cherry Republic vibe as all our locations — we're all about providing generous samples and creating memorable shopping experiences for folks who love Michigan (or don't know yet that they're about to fall head-over-heels for it),” Harding says.
What has the response been? “The Mackinaw City store opened in May 2025 as part of our broader expansion plans, and honestly, we've been welcomed with open arms by the wonderful community. We're beyond excited to be an integral part of this amazing town and can't wait to introduce even more visitors to Michigan's cherry magic through Cherry Republic.” Harding says.
About Cherry Republic: The company carries more than 200 products made with Michigan cherries, including chocolate-covered cherries, BBQ sauces, jams, jellies, salsas, ice cream toppings, nut mixes, baked goods, soda, cherry wine and beer, and condiments. The company distributes to some 700 retailers nationwide and employs more than 500 full- and part-time people throughout the state, positioning Cherry Republic “for continued growth both within Michigan and potentially beyond,” Harding says.
Distribution Expansion: In addition to opening a new store, Cherry Republic has invested $2.8 million in a 16,000-square-foot expansion of its distribution and fulfillment center in Empire, which will be up and running by August 2025.
The company is adding dry and cold storage space, which will enable Cherry Republic to buy and store more cherries during bumper crop years, explore new value-added product lines, and investigate new revenue streams for cherry farmers. Consolidating storage and distribution into one facility will also streamline the supply chain and enhance product delivery speeds to buyers.
The company broke ground on the project in late 2024 and received a $150,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for the project. The grant is specifically designed to provide financial support for projects that expand food and agriculture processing, fostering growth in the industry and bolstering Michigan’s economic.
With the expansion, the company is poised to purchase an additional one million pounds of cherries annually and create 20 new jobs.
Michigan made: Cherry Republic uses more than 3 million pounds of Michigan-grown Montmorency cherries in its products annually, shipping its products internationally from its Empire fulfillment and distribution center. The Empire campus also includes its Cherry Factory, where more than 200 various cherry products are produced. Michigan is the number one producer of tart cherries in the United States (65 percent of total production in the country), most of them are grown in the Traverse City area. Traverse City remains nationally recognized as the Cherry Capital of the World.
What’s next: Cherry Republic has “ambitious retail expansion dreams brewing,” Harding says. “Our founder Bob Sutherland has been eyeing possibilities for expansion beyond Michigan's borders — there's a whole world out there that needs more cherry love.”
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