How these women-owned businesses strengthen St. Clair County communities

The Community Correspondent role provides readers with on-the-ground and inclusive stories about the Port Huron area. This is made possible through funding provided by the Community Foundation of St. Clair County.

As the holidays roll in, St. Clair County residents are getting ready for gift shopping, family gatherings, and a season centered on giving back. One of the most meaningful ways to support your community is by choosing local — especially the women-owned businesses that anchor neighborhoods and build relationships that last long after the holiday lights come down.

Across the county, businesses like Port Huron Yoga, Yale Bakery, and Dot’s Candy Store show how personal investment, local pride, and community care can shape entire towns. Their stories highlight why supporting small businesses matters and how those dollars ripple outward to strengthen the region.

A Studio Built on Friendship and Community

Port Huron Yoga opened eight years ago, built on a friendship that started with daycare drop-offs and grew into a shared passion for wellness. 

Owners Jana Schultz and Jenny Vincent didn’t originally plan to become business partners — they were two busy moms searching for balance and carving out small moments of peace together. Over time, yoga became that grounding force, and what began as a personal connection slowly transformed into something much bigger.

“We actually met through our kids,” Schultz says. “Our kids went to daycare together when we were both working different jobs… we found yoga, and it was something that we could share together.”

What started as a supportive friendship blossomed into a studio built on the idea of making others feel supported, too. “We just decided that it was something that we wanted to try to provide, or kind of open up to the communities so people feel supported, like we were supporting each other,” Schultz explains.

That intention is reflected in the studio’s energy — a place where people arrive tense from their day and leave lighter. 

“I feel like it’s a space where you can see people relax, or just take a breath of relief,” she says. “I think it’s important to have a space where people feel like they can be themselves.”

Inclusivity sits at the heart of the studio’s culture, and Vincent says that wasn’t a strategic decision, but simply who they are.

“If you were to come to any class and just look around… all ages… men, women, all different body types… everybody feels equal and one and not judged,” she says. “I think it’s just who we are… we’re just very welcoming and inclusive people. And I think that gift… is like an over spill of the studio.”

Today, Port Huron Yoga offers a full schedule of yoga and Pilates classes, plus holiday specials, gift cards, and a Yoga and Massage event. They’re also collecting winter gloves for students through their Helping Hands Christmas Tree project — another example of how they’ve woven themselves into the fabric of the community.

Looking ahead, Schultz and Vincent hope to expand into teacher training and partnerships with local organizations, sports teams, and schools, continuing their mission of making wellness accessible for everyone.

A Long-Awaited Dream Turned Local Favorite

For Beth Wesler, owner of Dot’s Candy Store, also in Port Huron, the journey into small business ownership didn’t begin with a business plan, but with a dream she had carried since she was young. 

After raising her children and retiring, she finally allowed herself to pursue it.

“I always wanted to own an ice cream store, and I developed a love for baking,” she says. “I wanted to make sure that my children were raised… so I waited until they were out of the house, and I retired and decided it’s finally time.”

Before committing to a brick-and-mortar shop, Wesler built her customer base at farmers’ markets, where her handmade treats quickly became favorites. People didn’t just buy from her; they pushed her forward.

“I’ve had enough people say to me, ‘Can you please open a store so we can come buy your products year-round.’”

Dot’s Candy Store will celebrate its third anniversary in March 2026, offering homemade goods crafted with care and a sense of nostalgia. Each season brings new customers, new recipes, and new opportunities to connect. 

In recent weeks, Wesler has spent countless hours delivering hundreds of specialty Christmas baskets to local business owners and residents — a gesture that reflects both the demand for her products and the joy she puts into creating them.

Despite being a woman-owned business, Wesler doesn’t want to center that identity in her branding. Instead, she emphasizes gratitude — for her customers, fellow business owners, and the community that encourages her at every step.

One Hundred Years of Tradition, Carried Forward by a Local Family

Just west of Port Huron in Yale, the Yale Bakery has been part of community life for more than a century. When Connie and Pat Hayes took over in 2017, they embraced not just a business but a legacy — one built on homemade goods, hard work, and generations of local support.

“We are a full-service bakery… everything is homemade,” Hayes says.

The bakery has since grown to 15 employees and stayed committed to affordability — a value that matters deeply in a rural community. Their dedication was put to the test during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our biggest challenge was going through COVID,” she explains. “We were able to manage to keep our doors open and even do deliveries to customers.”

Community support helped them through that moment, and today the bakery is preparing for a physical expansion. Hayes credits local government and state partners for helping guide the process, a reminder that small businesses thrive when community institutions invest in them.

This holiday season, the bakery is busy turning out pies, cookies, breads, and seasonal specialties. Their long-term vision includes more seating and an eventual winery — a step that builds on their roots while opening the door to future growth.

Their gratitude is clear and ongoing.

“Our business is our community,” Hayes says. “We owe a lot of thanks to our ancestors before us… it’s an all great teller of community.”

Why Supporting Local Matters

Small businesses do more than keep money circulating within the county — they create spaces where people feel seen, valued, and connected. This holiday season, choosing to shop small — especially at women-owned businesses — strengthens St. Clair County in ways that stretch far beyond a single purchase. 

Whether it’s a yoga class, a holiday pie, or a homemade treat, these local entrepreneurs are shaping the region one connection, one customer, and one tradition at a time.