About Us

• OUR HISTORY In 1958 Roy Hentschel Started Roy’s Bait Shop on the sleepy outskirts of Traverse City’s East side. Roy and his wife Dora raised six children while growing the small bait shop into a general store. Customers increasingly requested Roy to carry more products. It started with the passing comments “It would be nice to be able to get milk and eggs here so I don’t have to go all the way into town” or “I wish I could pick up the local newspaper here.” And so Roy did his best to accommodate the customers. Over those first few years Roy’s Bait Shop became the local stop to get everything from soup to nuts. ROY'S THROUGH THE YEARS 1958 - Where it all started - In 1958 Roy Hentschel Started Roy’s Bait Shop on the sleepy outskirts of Traverse City’s Eastside. 1960's - Expansion - Roy’s Bait Shop became the local stop to get everything from soup to nuts. 1970's - Gas & Hardware - Roy’s offered a gas station, groceries, fresh cut meat and a full-service hardware store. 1980's - Power Equipment & Service - By the 1980’s Roy’s had added a full line of chainsaws and lawn equipment with repair and warranty service available as well. 1990's - Consolidating to One Building - In the 1990’s Roy’s General Store and Hentschel Hardware expanded into a single building increasing the level of convenience forming an unparalleled one-stop-shop for customers. 2000's - Food and Pizza - In the 2000’s Roy’s expanded it’s food service department to offer a tasty breakfast and lunch on a grab-and-go bar right up in the front of the store. Roy’s General Store pizza is a local favorite that always gets high reviews. TODAY - Carrying on the Roy's Tradition - After the passing of Roy and Dora, their children and grandchildren took the reins and continue the local tradition known as Roy’s. Today Roy Hentschel’s son’s Ted, Bob and Ben along with Roy’s grandson Rob share in ownership and management of Roy’s General Store.