Following a century of success in the baking hotbed of Chicago, Dinkel’s Bakery will be closing at the end of April. Owner Norman Dinkel, Jr. announced the bakery’s closure at the end of the month on April 5, marking a bittersweet end to a remarkable baking legacy as he retires.

“To our customers and neighbors. Thank you… 101 years serving you. But it is time. Dinkel’s will close Saturday, April 30,” read a sign posted on the bakery’s front door.

The announcement comes after a tumultuous two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic that Dinkel’s had navigated expertly. The bakery had just made it through another successful Fat Tuesday, in which it sold approximately 25,000 of its famed paczki over the course of several days. Other big sellers for the bakery were its signature stollen (a German fruit bread with pineapple and golden raisins), king cake, donuts and cakes.

Much like Sosland Publishing Company (the publisher of bake), Dinkel’s Bakery was founded in 1922. When Joseph Dinkel, came to Chicago in the early 1900s, he brought with him remarkable baking skills and recipes from a long line of master bakers in southern Bavaria, Germany. He was able to open a small bakeshop in 1922 with the help of his wife, Antonie. For the first 10 years, it was Joseph baking in the back of the shop and Antonie selling. Joseph's delicious baked foods quickly became very popular throughout the city.

In 1932 as the popularity of Dinkel's baked foods grew, Joseph and Antonie expanded the current location. It was about this time that their son, Norman Dinkel, Sr., came into the business and continued to build the quality reputation of the business. In the early 1970s, Norman Jr. took over the helm of the bakery thus embarking on the third generation of the business. As word spread of the bakery's quality products, demand for Dinkel's baked goods began to come in from loyal customers across the country (and even overseas).

According to the bakery’s website, Dinkel’s will still be supplying Easter celebrations this month with lamb and egg cakes and pies available from Saturday, April 9 to Saturday, April 16.

“Our loyal customers have been the ones who have truly made Dinkel’s into an establishment that became part of your lives: from your everyday coffee and donut, to creating cakes for your weddings, baby showers and birthdays,” says Norman Dinkel, Jr. “Please know we have been honored to be a part of your lives all these years.”

“With 100 plus years in business it is now time to say goodbye. It has been said there is a time, and a place for everything. With love and gratefulness for all our supporters, employees, neighborhood, and city, we say our farewell to you April 30, 2022.”