About Ideal Party Store

In May 1934, Roy A. and Julia La Rocque Crete opened Ideal Party Store in Bay City, MI, after the repeal of Prohibition. The business slowly turned into a booming success through World War II. In 1976, Roy J. Crete expanded the business on Johnson Street, doubling the size of the original store.

In 1997, Ideal Party Store opened the Shamrock Dairy Bar, which sells a variety of delicious ice creams, right next door and dramatically expanded its product selection. In 2010, they opened their “west side” location in response to customer demand for a more convenient location for those who lived on that side of the Saginaw River. Both stores offer selections of beverages not found anywhere else in the area. The new store has grown quite rapidly, becoming the largest independent beverage store in mid-Michigan.

The stores are still family-owned and operated. Third-generation family members manage the business, and fourth-generation family members are already working at the stores.