Courtesy photo The former Three Heart Bakery near Rogers City is slated to become a new camp store early this summer. Knaebe’s Apple Farm Ciderworks intends to open the new store that will be near Hoeft State Park.

ALPENA — Scott Kromer and Allison PaolettiKromer — husband and wife and owners of Knaebe’s Apple Farm Ciderworks — are preparing to open a new camping store near Hoeft State Park called Parkside Trading Post near Rogers City.

In the past few years since taking over the Knaebe’s Apple Farm Ciderworks business, Kromer and PaolettiKromer have expanded to offer more than just apples and baked goods such as new hard cider varieties, pizzas, and a shed location at the Water Street Commons in downtown Alpena.

Now the couple is embarking on a new venture to offer convenience to campers at Hoeft State Park. PaolettiKromer said that the Parkside Trading Post will occupy the previous Three Heart Bakery location that has been vacant on U.S. 23 for the past few years.

“We’re planning on doing a camp store,” PaolettiKromer said. “With groceries, camp supplies, and some bakery items.”

Kromer added that the store will also serve ice cream and feature Knaebe’s doughnuts, though the camp store will operate separately from their apple orchard and farm.

“We are kind of treating it as its own business,” PaolettiKromer stated. “It’s not really an extension of Knaebe’s.”

PaolettiKromer said that there won’t be any major renovations done to the location besides painting and rearranging. She said that the store will be ready by mid-May, just in time for the camping season in Northeast Michigan, which her family enjoys.

Kromer and PaolettiKromer were actually camping at Heoft State Park with their children when they had the idea of starting a camp store near the state park.

She said that while on a bike ride with her family, she and her husband realized that the previous Three Heart Bakery building would be a good location for the business, especially since it is a bit of a drive to Rogers City for last minute camping items.

“So from there, we reached out to the owner of the property,” Kromer said.

PaolettiKromer stated that she is “really excited to meet the campers” this season.

The couple explained that prior to owning Knaebe’s Apple Farm Ciderworks, they used to go camping five to six times a year. Though their apple orchard and farm keep them busy throughout the year now, Kromer and PaolettiKromer said that they try to camp as much as they can with their children.

“Our family comes first,” PaolettiKromer said.

She added that her and her husband try to incorporate their children in their business ventures as much as possible.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.