The Bay County Board of Commissioners paid tribute to Ideal Party Store, marking 85 years of operations with a resolution of congratulations Tuesday, May 14.

Owner Jerry Crete says Ideal is Michigan’s oldest continuous family owned party store after opening May 24, 1934 not long after the end of Prohibition. Crete recalled his grandfather started the business with $800, a card table for the counter and a cigar box for a cash register.

Ideal, with its east and west side Bay City locations, features a huge selection of liquors, beers and wines. In 1997, the family opened Shamrock Dairy Bar next to its east side store on Johnson St. which serves several types of ice cream.