At the always welcoming Yooper Pasty Company in Sault Ste. Marie, you’re not just getting a pasty—you’re stepping into a warm slice of Upper Peninsula comfort. Think: the scent of baking crust, shelves of nostalgic UP goods, and enough cabin-core vibes to make you wonder if you should’ve worn flannel.

Opened in 2023 by Jeff and Heidi Ritter, following a food trailer stint, Yooper Pasty Company is the first and only shop in the Sault dedicated solely to the unofficial food of the UP – pasties. And not just the traditional kind, either. From breakfast-ready hand pies to spicy beef twists and pot-pie hybrids, this little shop is on a mission to expand the pasty universe—without ever straying from its UP roots.

Jeff and Heidi aren’t new to the Upper Peninsula. Jeff spent 24 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, with time stationed right here in the USCG Sector Sault Ste. Marie. Heidi is a lifelong Yooper from Ishpeming with a background in teaching. After years of moving due to Jeff’s station, the couple made it official in 2023: They were putting down roots in Sault Ste. Marie. The first order of business? Opening a place that felt like home.

That meant pasties.

But not just any pasties.

The Ritters wanted to build a spot that felt like you were walking into a hunting cabin while also feeling like you just stepped into grandma’s kitchen. From the fresh smells of pasties baking to the CSTV with a Blades of Steel cartridge inserted in an NES to the cozy couch setup, Yooper Pasty Co. is a place full of stories, smells, laughter and a bit of UP oddities.

Step inside the shop on Portage Avenue, and you’ll feel the difference right away. The counter offers a rotating lineup of freshly baked pasties—classic beef and rutabaga, creamy chicken pot pie, spicy beef with pepper jack, breakfast sausage and egg, and more. Whether you’re just off a Soo Locks Boat Tour or strolling from downtown, there’s a flavor for every time of day.

 And then there is homemade gravies, classic ketchup, and more sauces to go around.

Ketchup lovers are more than welcome, but so are fans of homemade brown gravy, sausage gravy, cheese sauce, and even sriracha. The Ritters aren’t here to settle the “ketchup vs. gravy” debate—they’re here to fuel it. Being from the heart of the UP, Heidi leans ketchup. With Sault Ste. Marie sharing so many cultural ties with its sister city in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, there is plenty of gravy to go around.

While the food is the headline, the vibe inside Yooper Pasty Co. is the real hook. It’ll make you feel you’re living out your Escanaba in da Moonlight fantasies. It’s part diner, part gift shop, part love letter to Yooper living. You’ll find UP-themed mugs, flannel shirts, vintage-style signs, and quirky gifts tucked between lodge-style benches and warm wood finishes. Heidi, ever the teacher, makes sure there’s always something eye-catching or amusing for people to take in while they wait.

So whether you’re a lifelong pasty lover, a fan of cabincore lifestyles, or looking for a true slice of the UP while visiting Sault Ste. Marie, Yooper Pasty Co. is a must stop.

Yooper Pasty Company is located at 951 E. Portage Ave., just a short jaunt from downtown’s main drag. They’re currently open Monday-Thursday for lunch and dinner, with plans to expand hours as summer rolls in.

Whether you’re a lifelong Yooper, a curious traveler, or just someone who believes food should be handheld and hearty, this is one stop in the Soo that delivers the goods. Be sure to tag us in your pasty photos with #ilovethesoo and follow us on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

So—ketchup or gravy? We’ll let you decide.