Roeser's Bakery
| Roeser's Bakery | |
|---|---|
 The neon sign outside of Roeser's Bakery in Chicago, Illinois | |
Interactive map of Roeser's Bakery | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1911 |
| Location | 3216 W. North Ave., Chicago, Illinois, 60647 |
| Coordinates | 41°54′38″N 87°42′27″W / 41.9104501°N 87.7075383°W |
Roeser's Bakery is a bakery at 3216 W. North Ave. in Chicago, Illinois.[1][2] It is credited as being the oldest family-owned bakery in Chicago.[3]
History
John Roeser Sr. arrived in the United States from Germany in 1905 and settled in Humboldt Park, a neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois. In 1911, John opened Roeser's Bakery in downtown Chicago. In 1936, John Sr. handed down the bakery to his son, John Roeser Jr. and his wife Barbara. Years later, in the 1970s, Roeser's Bakery was handed down to John Roeser III and his wife, Deb. Over time, the bakery's clientele shifted from German and Scandinavian immigrants to Russian Jewish, Ukrainian, and Polish residents, followed by Puerto Rican residents beginning in the 1960s.[4]
When John Roeser III took over the bakery, Humboldt Park still had a lot of crimes. John III knew how to draw many different gang signs because the gangs paid a lot of money to have custom cakes.[5] Roeser's Bakery was a neutral space in the neighborhood even when crimes happened. John Roeser III believed that as long as he treated people with respect, they will do the same back.[5]
John Roeser IV started in the bakery at the age of ten. Just like every other owner before him, he started his work cleaning floors, washing dishes, and putting cakes in boxes. As he gains more experience, he will be allowed to decorate the cakes.[5] By 2024, John Charles Roeser IV was the bakery's fourth-generation owner.[6]
In popular culture
Roeser's appeared in a first-season episode of the television series The Bear, in which Marcus visits the bakery.[7]
References
- ↑ Lewis, Jenny (2011). Midwest Sweet Baking History: Delectable Classics around Lake Michigan. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781625842220.
- ↑ Bizzarri, Amy (May 7, 2015). Discovering Vintage Chicago: A Guide to the City's Timeless Shops, Bars, Delis & More. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 165–168. ISBN 9781493014064.
- ↑ Chu, Louisa (March 30, 2017). "A history of Roeser's, Chicago's oldest family-owned bakery". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on May 2, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
- ↑ Tawse, Bonnie (October 12, 2020). "An Essential Chicago Bakery". Midwesterner. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Blasco, Paul (February 14, 2016) [September 18, 2015]. "Humboldt Park's Changes Can Be Seen in 104 Years of Roeser's Bakery Treats". DNAinfo Chicago. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
- ↑ Arseneau, Jordan; Owens, John (June 28, 2024). "Roeser's adapted for a changing Humboldt Park as Chicago's oldest family-owned bakery". ABC7 Chicago. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
- ↑ Warner, Val; Owens, John (June 28, 2024). "Chicago restaurants play starring role in 'The Bear' as series returns for season 3". ABC7 Chicago. Retrieved August 12, 2026.