Glazed and Grilled: The merger of Cops & Doughnuts and Halo Burger

The early spring air in Central Michigan usually carries a bite that keeps folks indoors, but the scent drifting from the corner of McEwan and Fifth streets in Clare is enough to pull anyone off the sidewalk. It’s the smell of yeast, sugar, and survival.

Inside the “Original Precinct,” the atmosphere is as thick as the frosting on a Long John. This is Cops & Doughnuts, a bakery that famously began in 2009 when nine local police officers banded together to save a then-113-year-old business from becoming another boarded-up casualty of a quiet downtown. 

For more than a decade, the bakery has been a badge of local pride. But recently, the “Cops” made a move that felt like a dare: they sold the business to a hamburger man.

Achille “Ace” DiNello, a Michigan State alumnus and a high-speed entrepreneur with a portfolio featuring Halo Burgers, Melting Moments (gourmet ice cream treats), and New York Pizza Pie, is the new owner. 

To some, it sounded like a clash of culinary titans; to Greg “Ryno” Rynearson, one of the original officers, it was simply the right time for a handoff.

“Two of us bought back in,” says Rynearson, who oversees social media for Cops & Doughnuts — the original shops sees 300,000 visitors a year. “Ace thought it was vital to keep some cops involved. We still make everything from scratch right here. We’re still cops selling doughnuts. That identity isn’t going anywhere.”

The transition is a study in being “separate but together.” While the coffee cups are getting a slight redesign — removing the “100% cop-owned” label now that DiNello is at the helm — the soul of the operation remains in the flour-dusted hands of the bakers.

On any given morning, the kitchen is a powerhouse of productivity, pumping out 500 dozen doughnuts. That’s 252 trays of yeast and cake rings, hand-fried pies, and cookies destined for both local bellies and far-flung fans across the country.

Cops & Doughnuts has been transformational for downtown Clare. 

“What began as a local effort to save a historic bakery became a nationally recognized destination that put our community on the map,” says Jeremy Howard, Clare City Manager. “It has driven consistent foot traffic to downtown, supported surrounding small businesses, and strengthened our identity as a welcoming, creative rural community.”

Beyond the shop’s economic impact, the bakery has played a vital cultural role. It is a gathering place for residents, a mandatory stop for northern-bound travelers, and a symbol of local reinvention.

 “The visibility from national media exposure created ripple effects that benefited the entire downtown district and reinforced confidence in local investment,” Howard notes.

Despite the “sleepy” reputation of Central Michigan in the dead of winter, the Clare bakery is a logistical marvel. For eleven years running, their shipping department has achieved a “grand slam”: delivering fresh treats to all 50 states and Washington, D.C., in the weeks surrounding Fat Tuesday.

“It started as a way to beat the winter slump,” Rynearson explains. “There’s something special about a little shop in Clare hitting every corner of the country from a snowdrift.”

But DiNello isn’t just maintaining the status quo; he’s looking at the map. The vision involves a major homecoming for his other flagship brand. 

DiNello plans to reopen a Halo Burger at its former original location on Saginaw Street in downtown Flint in April. He also plans to add Cops & Doughnuts in that location later this year. Halo began in Flint in 1923 and is considered one of the oldest hamburger chains in the country.  Halo Burger locations can be found throughout Southeast Michigan.

When it comes to the marriage of burger and doughnut, the strategy centers on a “combo” model — a shared roof where Halo Burgers handles the lunch and dinner rush while Cops & Doughnuts dominates the morning. These dual-branded sites will likely be positioned near highway exits to capture the steady stream of hungry travelers.

“He likes drive-throughs,” Rynearson notes. “Seventy percent of Halo’s business is at the window, and future locations will reflect that efficiency.”

For Rynearson, the new partnership also offers a chance to resurrect a piece of personal history. From 2012 to 2018, the Clare building housed the “Traffic Stop Diner.” It was a hit, but the sheer volume of doughnut production eventually crowded the diner out. 

“My dream and vision would be to see Ace bring that back,” Ryno says. “He has the infrastructure to make a diner work alongside the bakery in a way we couldn’t toward the end.”

City Manager Howard sees the merger as a net positive for the region. “We’re always encouraged when Michigan-based businesses find ways to collaborate and grow while keeping their roots in the communities that built them. Many people see it as an exciting collaboration between two iconic Michigan brands, each with strong regional loyalty.”

Of course, change in a small town always invites a little “grumbling” at the local barbershop. Some residents worry that a larger chain might dilute the magic nine cops created with their life savings.

 But Rynearson is quick to point out that the numbers don’t lie. Business at the Mt. Pleasant “Precinct” is up, online orders are surging, and the Clare flagship remains a steady anchor.

To keep the local flavor protected, the Clare store is leaning into its status as the “Original Precinct.” Much like a flagship store in a major city, certain merchandise and specialty items will be exclusive to the McEwan Street location. If you want the true, undiluted experience, you have to come to the source.

The story of Cops & Doughnuts was never just about fried dough; it was about nine guys who refused to let their town’s history crumble. As the brand prepares to expand, that heart remains intact.

“We’re proud of what we’ve built,” Rynearson says. “It’s been a fun ride, and with Ace, we’re looking at a much longer road ahead. We’re growing, sure — but the heart of it stays right here in Clare.”

In the end, it turns out that burgers and doughnuts have more in common than one might think. They both represent the “go-getter” spirit of Michigan — a mix of grit, sugar, and the refusal to clock out when there is still work to be done.