U-M, MSU School Spirit Reflected in Plymouth Shops' Sweet Treats

At least three downtown shops in Plymouth are offering some tasty treats for Saturday’s big kickoff between Michigan and Michigan State.

, located inside , has been offering Michigan and Michigan State-themed cookies each weekend, in addition to its soft German pretzels and other sweets.

Kurt Lienhard, former owner of , recently opened his shop inside the bread bakery and has seen customers flock to the shop for the Michigan and Michigan State-themed cookies.

Lienhard said he created the team-themed cookies to take advantage of the football season.

On his display are cookies shaped like jerseys and footballs bearing likenesses to the two rival teams.

“They taste better than they look,” he said.

, a home furnishing store, also offers Wolverines and Spartans-themed cookies, both in football and “M” and “S” shapes.

Owner Martha McMeekin said the cookies come from Short & Sweet in West Bloomfield and have been a hit.

“We’re selling a lot of these this week,” she said.

McMeekin said the Michigan State cookies had been selling better than Michigan this week.

One downtown business has dogs in mind for its football-themed treats.

Gary Atkinson, owner of in Plymouth, is selling Michigan and Michigan State-themed football treats for dogs.

Made of all natural ingredients and coated with carob frosting to simulate chocolate, the cookies, Atkinson said, are popular with pet owners — and their pets.

Atkinson said he’s been selling the football treats since the beginning of the season and they often have been impulse buys from customers.

He said he’s made plenty of extra football cookies this week in anticipation of the big game.

The treats go well with the large variety of team-themed dog apparel the store has, including collars, leashes, bandanas and dog beds.

Michigan and Michigan State kick off noon Saturday in East Lansing. The game will air on ESPN.