Le Mars Bakery Closing
By Melissa Lanzourakis, KTIV
12/28/2005
The doors of the Vander Meer Bakery have been open since 1934. Pete Vander Meer Senior opened the store with visions of a "mom and pop" bakery. His taste for pasteries, donuts, cakes, and breads held true for decades. On Saturday the bakery will close.
Years after the Senior Vander Meer opened the bakery, his son Pete Vander Meer Junior took over. After he retired, the bakery was sold but the new owners kept the Vander Meer name.
Folks all over town come here to pick up birthday and wedding cakes, ginerbread houses, donuts, peanut brittle ... all made right here from scratch for 71 years.
Clint Faust of Le Mars IA said, "It's good food, we always get our donuts here. It's just kind of a family business and we like going here."
Even though the doors will close, people are not only taking pasteries and bread with them but also their childhood memories.
Pat Denney says, "We use to come after school and go through the dumpster and look for small cardboard boxes and we'd bring them down here and trade them for snacks after school."
Memories that will last for years to come.
The Vander Meer bakery will close Saturday afternoon at three.
The store hasn't been bought yet, but many are hoping the new owners will keep the store a bakery with the Vander Meer name.
Thu, April 6th 2006, 11:27 AM PDT
Janice Kellen Mahoney
I have wonderful memories of First Friday's at Gehlen. When we were kids we looked forward to having fried rolls and glazed donuts in the high school cafeteria after Mass.
I'm going to miss the Tom and Jerry Mix during the holidays. Any chance of getting the recipe?
Fri, April 7th 2006, 1:16 PM PDT
Skip Fisch
Viewing the blog on VanderMeer Bakery brought back many wonderful maemories except for the times I helped Pete Jr. clean baking pans. Carmel is wonderful on rolls but not on a pan. However, it was a way to earn a few bucks in H.S.
Fri, April 7th 2006, 7:59 PM PDT
Julie Kilpatrick
I know my mother Anita Kilpatrick will really miss your buttermilk sugar donuts. The best anywhere she always said. I also remember the fried rolls and glazed donuts and milk on First Fridays at Gehlen with Janice Kellen Mahoney and the class of 1969!
I enjoyed seeing the pictures of the past. Hi Dorothy!
Mon, April 17th 2006, 1:17 PM PDT
vA
Dad says that Tom and Jerry is whipped up whole eggs with powdered sugar and rum flavoring, but he doesn't know the proportions.
Fri, July 7th 2006, 3:28 PM PDT
Russell Fletcher
Living out of state, I haven't had their bread in about 30 years. How I miss their Pioneer Bread.
Russell Fletcher, Battle Ground WA
Mon, July 31st 2006, 8:34 PM PDT
Marcheta Keller
The "Crispies" were definitely a family favorite with us, especially with almond filling! From my college years at Westmar, to placing orders from Arizona 30 years later. Do you have an idea of where to get any half as good, or will you post recipes?
Tue, February 13th 2007, 11:05 AM PST
Duke Mavros
I know if you are not dutch you are not much as the old cleshae goes even when it comes to bakeries that dutch charm will be missed.
Wed, February 14th 2007, 12:19 PM PST
vA
My understanding is that all of the recipies were sold with the bakery.
Wed, April 11th 2007, 6:34 AM PDT
client.mchsi.com
All of The recipies were sold with the bakery. Many of the old products have been brought back,indcluding the dutch tradition of almond patties. And another point, you don't have to be dutch to make a great product.
Mon, June 4th 2007, 3:40 PM PDT
Jenny
I remember on the weekends my mother would go to the bakery and bring home the donuts for Breakfast on Saturday mornings. Then As I got older I came to Lemars to stop and get a donut or for my children, I had found out that they were closed, with disappoinment.