DUNDALK (WBFF) — For more than a century, Herman’s Bakery was more than just a place to buy cakes — it was a tradition. But on Tuesday, that tradition came to an emotional end.
After 103 years, the family-owned bakery in Dundalk turned off its ovens for the last time, drawing long lines of loyal customers hoping to savor one final taste of Herman’s signature treats, from the strawberry shortcakes to the marshmallow donuts.
Inside, the scene was bittersweet. Balloons and baked goods filled the space, but so did tears. “It just breaks my heart,” one customer said, “I’m going to miss it so much.”
At times, the line wrapped around the room and stretched clear to the front door, some waiting more than an hour, others driving in from out of state.
ALSO READ | PHOTOS: Latest Birdland Mural unveiled on Harlem Park Recreation Center
“It’s worth it,” another customer said, “I drove from the Delaware line to come here.”
For generations, Herman’s has played a part in many of life’s biggest milestones. “We got our wedding cake here,” said one customer, “Now we want to freeze one for our baby’s christening.”
“My dad’s favorite, who has since passed, was the Dutch chocolate cake,” another said, “These are precious memories.”
But the truth is, behind the counter, your special occasions have slowly started to become some of the Hermans’ hardest days.
“People are coming in here crying, and I’m jumping for joy because I feel like I’m getting an ‘out of jail’ free card,” said Adrianne Porcella, a member of the Herman family.
Ironically, they say running a bakery is far from a cakewalk. Filled with early mornings, late nights, and lots of heavy lifting.
“The ingredients come in 50-pound bags,” said Porcella, “So, it is very grueling and I work 60 to 100 hours a week.”
And lately, the load has become too heavy to bear, as the family ages and health concerns rise, along with the price of doing business these days.
“The official announcement said that we’re closing due to, for retirement, just retiring,” said Harry Herman, whose was just 9 years old when the Dundalk location first opened, “The real story is that we’re a family-based bakery, and a number of the principals involved, like myself and my sister, are getting old. And we just can’t stand the pace anymore.”
ALSO READ | Cockeysville native to command first crewed moon mission in more than 50 years
“I just don’t want people to feel like, oh, Herman’s abandoned them,” Porcella added, “I just think after 103 years, it’s time to change the path for our family.”
Since the announcement, they say the community’s response has been overwhelming. Even forcing them to temporarily shut down to restock the shelves, or at least, restock as much as they could.
“We were hit with basically three weeks of sales equivalent to Christmas Eve each day,” Herman said.
“The customers just keep coming,” echoed Porcella, “I just wish we could have produced more.”
But after decades of baking for everyone else, it’s finally time for the Hermans to enjoy their holidays at home. They say they’re most looking forward to relaxing, although, talks of a cookbook or a food truck are currently in the works.
“And then we only have to work when we want to work,” said Porcella.
So, while the store may be closing its doors, the Hermans say this isn’t the final goodbye — after a hard-earned break, they still plan to find a way to keep their recipes, and the legacy they built from scratch, alive.
“I can still make stuff,” Porcella says, “It doesn’t mean the kitchen’s closed.”
Local Story
