Owner of Biggie’s Pizza buying Morning Fresh Bakeries in Adrian

Biggie’s Pizza owner Allen Heldt calls Jerry Gallatin a mentor and that’s one reason why Heldt and his wife, Tiffany, are buying the two Morning Fresh Bakeries in Adrian.

“My wife and I are really excited about this,” said Heldt, who will officially take over the bakeries on Jan. 1. “We will not change a thing about the business. We only want to continue the success Jerry and (his wife) Pat established through their great local brand.”

After 50 years of making doughnuts, Gallatin said he is retiring from the business to spend more time doing things for which he hasn’t had much time. Morning Fresh Bakeries first launched in 1972 in Blissfield. Now there are three locations: two in Adrian and one in Perrysburg, Ohio.

Heldt will be buying the two Adrian stores while the one in Ohio will remain under Gallatin’s ownership.

For 20 years, Heldt has owned and operated Biggie’s Pizza in the Adrian Mall. He said he’s always been a hands-on owner and that mentality will stay with him as he expands his business operations.

“I like to interact with customers on a daily basis and be involved in every way,” Heldt said.

This style was what helped lead to this deal. Gallatin said he watched Heldt operate his business in a successful way during some difficult times in the mall. He said he was impressed.

“Allen understood that to run a small business you need to work it yourself and be hands-on,” said Gallatin, who is also on the Adrian City Commission, but is not running for re-election.

Heldt said Biggie’s will be leaving the mall and will move in with the bakery under one roof at the location on South Main Street. Leaving the mall has nothing to do with its present state of general vacancy or the possibility of improvements there, Heldt said. He said he would have left the mall no matter what because of the deal to buy the bakeries in order to be closer to this new venture.

Heldt said this change will take a learning transition over the next several months, but he expects to keep the high quality of the bakeries going as they move forward.

“Jerry and Pat have built a successful locally owned business, and that’s important to us,” Heldt said. “We have a deep respect for them, so we aim to continue what they’ve made.”