The village’s love affair with Kirschbaum’s chocolate-covered donuts is well known. But, do you recall the village’s other great bakeries?

Chocolate Donuts

It was in 1925 that village residents first forgot about dieting and began patronizing Hentges Bakery, which had just opened at 925 Burlington … that’s where Oberweis is now located. Mr. Hentges was no stranger to the art of baking, having 15 years prior experience, first at Chicago’s Atlantic Hotel and later at the famed Henrici’s Restaurant.

Business must have been brisk because, just five years later in 1930, the Hentges announced they would build a $25,000, two-story building at 835 Burlington, where Kirschbaum’s is located today. The new bakery was to be modern in all respects, including a “new electric cake-mixing machine” and two new ovens. The second floor would provide a five-room residence for the Hentges.

Bakery Grand Opening, 1925

Based on all reports, the new bakery was a great success and provided literally thousands of birthday cakes and other treats over the following two decades. However, the Hentges decided it was time to retire in 1954 and sold the business to Lester and Cecilia Kirschbaum. In addition to creating wonderful baked goods, the Kirschbaums were always involved in the village they called home. As time went by, son Bob and his wife, Charlene, assumed increased responsibility. And, today, a third-generation, grandson Mike and his wife Penny, who manages the bakery, keep the tradition alive.

Kirschbaum’s Bakery

Kirchbaum’s Ad, 1968

Kirschbaum’s has always had its own way of doing things. For example, they are closed Sundays and Mondays, aren’t open in the evening, don’t accept credit cards, ask you to take a number (and sometimes wait outside) on busy days, close for a three-week vacation every July, and don’t officially open until 7 a.m., even though they always let commuters in after 6:30 a.m. for the requisite donut or sweet roll. And all that seems to be just fine with their loyal clientele.

Perhaps the best testimony to Kirschbaum’s popularity was found in a 1978 real estate ad. While listing all of the many selling points of their Forest Hills home, the sellers were careful to point out that it was within walking distance of “the train, school, parks, and Kirschbaum’s”.

Fingerhut Ad, 1959

In addition to the downtown area, the Garden Market Shopping Center at 47th & Willow Springs Road has had its share of great bakeries during the past 50+ years. For example, the Fingerhut Bakery was an original tenant of the shopping center, which opened in 1959. One of four stores operated by Herb Fingerhut, it was well known for its Babi’s rye bread.

Cake & Cookie Cottage, 1983

Unfortunately, Fingerhut closed in 1977. However, in 1983, the Cake & Cookie Cottage leased space in Garden Market. Billing itself as more of a specialty bakery, the Cottage featured “decorated cakes for any occasion”, as well as “cookie greetings”. Unfortunately, it closed within a few years.

Dominick’s Baker, 2012

Today, the Dominick’s Food Store houses the shopping center’s sole remaining bakery. While Dominick’s sold Heinemann’s bakery products for many years (and still does), the store underwent a major expansion in the 1990s, during which an on-site bakery was added. Breads, pies, pastries, dinner rolls, and bagels are just a few of the items available each day.

While searching for a logical conclusion to this story, it appeared that the only unanswered question was whether the author ate the donuts shown in the first photo. I did. But, in fairness, they were not paid for by the Historical Society.