05/17/2026
After nearly four decades of bait, coffee, stories, and questionable advice, it’s finally time for us to hang up the bait buckets and head for new adventures.
Dean’s Bait & Tackle INC closes June 30th and will reopen July 1st as Dean’s Bait & Tackle Shop LLC — same place, same operation, just a few new faces less ours… except for Scott. He apparently got put on with the FF&E list (Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment) … or maybe it was the Goodwill sheet. We’ll let the new owner's figure that one out.
Our retirement plan? Summers on the boat in Michigan… and when that first cold wind hits, we’ll be snow-free, Mark whiskey bent with Jack, and me clocking in right on time for Cold-Beer-Thirty at “Flip Flops” in Florida. That still leaves enough time back here to put some meat in the freezer — assuming the Michigan DNR quits changing the rules long enough for the Big D to figure out what he’s allowed to shoot, catch, or “accidentally” keep.
For those who don’t know us by our real names… you’ve got Mark (the heavy labor “outside guy,” fish angler, and professional BS detector) and Tam (the reason the lights stayed on, the bills got paid, and with his help, made enough right decisions to get us to this point).
We’ve been here long enough to confirm a couple universal truths:
— Nobody ever caught “just one beer” worth of fish
— And if you miss, it’s ALWAYS the gun’s fault, the bow’s fault, the scope, or the wind… anything except the person holding it
Longtime customers probably remember Mark answering the phone with:
“Dean’s Bait & Tackle, Hunting Supplies, Bail Bondsman and Marriage Counselor… how can I help you?”
And honestly… that’s no joke.
Over the years, we’ve posted bail, floated a few “short-term” loans (some still maturing), settled many fishing and hunting arguments, listened to life stories, and heard enough marriage problems to deserve either an honorary counseling certificate or hazard pay.
But now that we’ll be living on a fixed income, those services will no longer be fee-free or interest-free. Payments will now require actual cash. We are Republicans, after all — no bailouts, no handouts, and definitely no running tabs.
What started as a little bait shop turned into a lifetime of memories, friendships, laughs, stories, and more coffee, whiskey, and beer conversations than we could ever count (or clearly remember). We’ll skip over a few of those late-night stories from back when closing time was more of a suggestion than a rule… but let’s just say the walls at Dean’s have seen a lot, and thankfully, they don’t talk.
We’ve been lucky to meet so many great people — from our loyal locals to all of you heading north for fishing, hunting, and a “quick stop” that somehow turned into an hour… or three. Somewhere along the way, you all became more than customers. You became friends, extended family, and occasionally part of the evidence.
And for the few who rubbed us the wrong way… just refer back to the marquee sign — those sayings weren’t put up for decoration.
It’s bittersweet, but we’re excited to hand things over to Troy, Amy, and their family. They’ve got the heart, the hustle, and — fingers crossed — the patience to handle all of you like we did. Please support them the way you supported us… and maybe give them just a little time before going all postal in the Google reviews.
We’re definitely going to miss seeing all of you… but we’re also ready to find out if retirement will be as boring as everyone says it is — or if it’s really just becoming comfortably numb.
From the bottom of our hearts…
Thank you for the amazing years, the laughs, the loyalty, and for making this little sporting goods/bait shop such a huge part of our lives. What started as a business became a second home filled with good people.
If you have a favorite Dean’s story, hunting or fishing picture, or even an old photo from over the years, please share it in the comments. We’d love to look back on all the memories with you “JUST ONE MORE” time.
P.S. If you need us… we’ll be somewhere in the USA — riding Harleys, roaming in the camper, or floating on one of our boats, bonfire going, American flag flying, and watching sunsets so good they make you grab a spoon, sing and dance with Joe’s Garage Band, and start planning a fish fry.
Mark & Tam Foster
Retired, Rewired, Reporting for Leisure
AKA “Dean & Deanette”
Your favorite retired master baiters — finally off the hook and planning to keep it that way.
