Tillie's Bakery, on the narrow 900 block of Liberty Street, was actually a family factory outlet store. Behind the house, whose living room served as the store, facing an alley called Fountain Street, was Long's Bakery. Long's produced small plastic wrapped shoefly pies and breakfast cakes, which were distributed in local grocery stores throughout Allentown. Tillie Long would open the bakery store several hours each day, and the small selection of wrapped bake goods would quickly be snatched up by knowledgeable neighbors. Peter and Tillie operated the factory and bakery front for the better part of a century. Afterwards, the business was operated by their son, William. The bakery building on Fountain Street is now apartments.
When I lived in the area, I used to go to their bakery, The Bride's Bakery, and Valos Bakery. I am not sure if any of them are still open, because it has been a long time since I moved away and haven't been back to visit. Those were good times. Thanks for the pictures and your nice blog. It brings back good, old memories.
ReplyDeleteTillie's Bakery made the best sticky buns. Small in size and price. A true neighborhood bakery. Greatly missed.
ReplyDeleteI lived right across the street for years. They would only open a few hours a day and only with a few dozen tasty selections. If you got there too late you were out of luck. First come, first serve. We'd always try to be there at the open to get the best selections. When you went in the door bell would ring and Tillie would come out from behind that pull back curtain in the picture. She was a big ole gray haired woman and super sweet. When it snowed we'd rush over to shovel her sidewalk and she'd give us a few bucks and a donut. Good times...
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