You don’t need Doc Brown’s time machine to catch a glimpse of Chicago’s history. You need only to visit Dinkel’s Bakery in Lakeview.
Much like the Chop House or the Green Mill, Dinkel’s Bakery is a Chicago institution. Since 1922, Lakeview residents have walked under Dinkel’s towering and historic sign at 3329 N. Lincoln Ave. Peaking through its windows, past the old-fashioned cakes topped with tiny, plastic figurines, you see early-morning customers grabbing numbers and waiting patiently to purchase treats to share with family and co-workers.
Inside you’re immediately comforted by the sweet smells of bakery goodness. In the yellow-lit cases you’ll see rows of everything from cannolis to croissants to cakes. But the doughnuts are Dinkel’s best-selling products. The chocolate-glazed is especially decadent.
And, oh, yes, Dinkel’s has cupcakes, too. Posh cupcake shops are ubiquitous in this city, which is something third-generation owner Norm Dinkel calls a fad.
“We’ve been making cupcakes since 1922,” Dinkel said. “We’ll see if those shops are around years from now.”
Dinkel wants his bakery to last another 90 years. And to do this, he’s keeping it in the family. Son-in-law Luke Karl, 32, is learning the ropes of master baker and envisions the bakery growing with the neighborhood. He has put Dinkel’s on Twitter and Facebook to reach his young neighbors.
“I know a lot of our customers do those mediums, and we don’t want to get left behind,” he said. “It’s important to show people that we’re keeping up with them.”
And keeping up with picky palates of Lakeview can be a challenge. The bakery has goods that appeal to the diversity of the neighborhood. Dinkel’s offers vegan, organic and gluten-free products. It will soon sell sandwiches as well, something customers have been requesting.
But keeping tradition alive will be as much as a priority as expanding the product line. Getting the old with the new is exactly why 22-year-old Jason Tyrawa visited Dinkel’s on a Wednesday morning. He purchased bread, doughnuts and pretzel rolls.
“Their stuff is better and cheaper than Whole Foods,” he said. “I love its old style.”
He plans on not sharing his doughnuts with co-workers.
THE GIST: Family-owned bakery for nearly 90 years, Dinkel’s is a Chicago institution and Lakeview staple. You’ll see the diversity of Lakeview inside this bakery every weekday morning, and especially on Saturday mornings.
WHAT YOU’LL FIND: Besides its best-selling doughnuts and hot chocolate, you’ll find all types of baked goods including cupcakes, cookies and pastries all ranging in price from 50 cents to $5; wedding, birthday, anniversary cakes are neighborhood favorites; Packaged goods like chocolate-chip cookies and coffee cakes. It also bakes classic Chicago treats like pretzel twists, stollen (German coffee cake) and paczki (Polish doughnuts). Oldest recipe is Dinkel’s cream-cheese cake.
GO HERE IF: You want to score some points with your boss by bringing doughnuts to your meeting. They’re on special on Wednesdays: 3 for $2.99.
BE SURE NOT TO MISS: Adorning the walls in the corner of the bakery are black and white photos of ghosts of Lakeview’s past. Dinkel’s will be serving sandwiches by early summer and is currently perfecting its bread recipes.
Dinkel’s Bakery
3329 North Lincoln Avenue (between Roscoe and School)
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 281-7300
www.dinkels.com