Our Story
What is the story behind the name Bear & The Hare?
Hi, I’m Caitlin! I am the co-owner of Bear & the Hare alongside my wonderful mother Patti. We get asked often where we came up with our business name or the story behind it. It came rather naturally to us matter of fact!
The Bear:
Growing up, one of the many nicknames my late father called me was Caitlin Bears. Over the years it shortened to “Bears” and continued to grow amongst some friends into Caity Bear and other variations. So that part is an homage to my incredible Father who encouraged me to always follow my passion and supported every new craft I picked up along the way. My Father passed in 2020 so his legacy lives on through our store. Also some personality characteristics associated with the Bear suit me well, ethical, confident, go-with-the-flow, protective and empathetic.
The Hare:
That’s Patti. My entire life my mother always loved all things rabbits. From lamps, to dishes, pillows, figurines, paintings and so much more. Patti has collected so many rabbits throughout my lifetime that I used to make a game out of it to count how many she had in the house. I think I reached over 150 at one point!! But keep in mind that she has 20 years of interior design experience, so you better believe you wouldn’t even notice how many she has because she has done it so tastefully! It's been a few years since I counted last, maybe it's time for an update? Some personality traits of the Hare suit Patti well too, elegant, reserved, thoughtful, and always filled with ideas that keep her moving! So, as a mother-daughter duo, I’m the Bear and Patti is the Hare.
The Bear:
Growing up, one of the many nicknames my late father called me was Caitlin Bears. Over the years it shortened to “Bears” and continued to grow amongst some friends into Caity Bear and other variations. So that part is an homage to my incredible Father who encouraged me to always follow my passion and supported every new craft I picked up along the way. My Father passed in 2020 so his legacy lives on through our store. Also some personality characteristics associated with the Bear suit me well, ethical, confident, go-with-the-flow, protective and empathetic.
The Hare:
That’s Patti. My entire life my mother always loved all things rabbits. From lamps, to dishes, pillows, figurines, paintings and so much more. Patti has collected so many rabbits throughout my lifetime that I used to make a game out of it to count how many she had in the house. I think I reached over 150 at one point!! But keep in mind that she has 20 years of interior design experience, so you better believe you wouldn’t even notice how many she has because she has done it so tastefully! It's been a few years since I counted last, maybe it's time for an update? Some personality traits of the Hare suit Patti well too, elegant, reserved, thoughtful, and always filled with ideas that keep her moving! So, as a mother-daughter duo, I’m the Bear and Patti is the Hare.
Family Entrepreneurs
Meet The Owners
Caitlin
Caitlin has 12 years experience in customer service and hospitality. Just like her mother Patti, she’s been an artist at heart her entire life. She specializes in pyrography and is the main source for our custom/personalized keepsake options! She is self taught and has been hand-burning for 5 years. Caitlin also helps design the logos on all of our apparel & home goods. You can find her behind the counter ringing in orders, creating new designs or working on a custom piece!
Patti
Patti has about 50+ years in customer service, sewing and retail. She is what makes our store look incredible! She has the vision to transform any space into a display that draws your attention. Patti also hand makes some of the items we carry, like pillows and stuffed animals. She can make a bow behind her back or with her eyes closed! You can find her behind the counter wrapping your gifts in style or ringing in orders, changing out displays or helping Caitlin with new designs!
Experience our unique selections!
Stop in and visit, we are happy to answer any questions you may have.
Contact Us by phone, on Facebook Messenger or email!
Contact Us by phone, on Facebook Messenger or email!
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are you located?
We are located inside the Riverview Plaza, 201 N Riverside Ave, St. Clair MI 48079, St. Clair, MI., section A-6 which is the North-east quandrant of the plaza. The Riverview Plaza is in the heart of downtown St. Clair, Michigan. The Plaza boasts a beautiful courtyard located along N. Riverside Avenue (M-29).
How long does it take on average to create a hand-burned keepsake?
Typically, depending on the design, we can have your keepsake ready within 7-days. Depending upon the number of orders we have in front of your order, it could take as long as two weeks.
Do you have any store events?
Typically we do not have in-store events, although we are very active in the community events that take place throughout the year. Please visit our Events page for details.
What are your shipping and return policies?
All sales are final on personalized items. We offer in-store credit or exchanges only for apparel or non-customized gifts.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept cash, check, major credit cards, Apple Pay, and touchless payments.
Do you offer Gift Wrapping?
We offer complimentary Gift Wrapping with all purchases.