By Darlene Brace
Ecklof Bakery is a well-known business establishment in the Jamestown community. For those who may not be familiar, Ecklof Bakery is a full-line Swedish retail bakery that has stood the test of time, having been in the Jamestown area for over sixty years.
Ecklof Bakery is a family-run business. Dick Ecklof and his wife Carolyn first opened the bakery doors in 1956. Originally, the bakery was one of three separate businesses located in the area that is now the Foote Avenue Plaza and included Tasty Corners, and Rockman’s Grocery. Eventually, the plaza was constructed, and Ecklof Bakery was located in the plaza where it remained for many years. Following Dick’s death in 1968, Carolyn continued to own and operate the bakery until she retired in 1976, at which time her son Rick took over.
“pink striped cookies” and much more. It has been a time-honored family run
business in the Jamestown community for decades. Part of Ecklof Bakery’s
continued legacy is their well-known signature item of the pink striped cookies.
When the business fi rst opened, the Ecklofs handed out a free cookie to
all the children who came in with their parents. When you’re in Jamestown,
put Ecklof Bakery on your list of places to go, as it is the perfect destination
In 2004, Ecklof Bakery left the plaza to move to its current location at 832 Foote Avenue. This relocation allowed the bakery to expand its operations and included the addition of a deli area. Rick continued to operate the business for many years. While growing up, Rick’s sons, Chad and Devin, worked alongside their father. When Chad graduated from high school in 1990, he immediately started working at the bakery full-time and has worked there ever since, except for the years that he was in the Navy. When Rick decided it was time to retire in 2019, Chad decided to follow in his family’s footsteps and became the new and current owner.
Part of Ecklof Bakery’s continued legacy is their well-known signature item of the pink striped cookies. When the business first opened, the Ecklofs handed out a free cookie to all the children who came in with their parents. Originally, they were called ice cream bars and are made of vanilla shortbread with a single pink stripe running down the middle. When returning to the bakery, children would often say, “Mom can I get a pink striped cookie?” and eventually that became the name. Through the years, the bakery has continued to make countless dozens of the pink striped cookies each week. To this day, children still receive a free pink striped cookie when they visit the bakery, making it a cherished tradition that people in the community treasure.
Although the pink striped cookies are their signature item, the bakery features much more. They always have at least eight breads available, and their best-selling bread is their Swedish rye bread. There’s always a variety of cookies. They also make about a dozen different types of doughnuts as well as cinnamon rolls, cupcakes, brownies, and many more delicious treats. To be able to make all these baked goods, the bakers at Ecklof Bakery start working at 4am, six days a week and make everything from scratch with no preservatives. Large batches of baked goods are made, frozen, and then taken out to be sold.
The bakery also includes a deli area including two rows of small booths as well as a counter seating to allow for full service eat-in breakfasts and lunches. Their breakfasts include a variety of omelets, sausage and gravy, breakfast bowls, burritos, and more. Their best-selling breakfasts are their breakfast burritos and their homemade cinnamon swirl French toast. Their lunch menu consists of subs, sandwiches, stuffed butter bits, soups, and salads. Make sure to try one of their amazing best-selling paninis or their Korv burgers served on rye bread.
You can also buy meats and cheeses at the deli counter as similar items you would find in the big grocery stores. Chad stated, “With the rise in prices across the board, we still try to keep our prices lower than the big grocery stores. We strive to have the best quality products at the possible best prices and our customers in the community really appreciate that.”
The bakery is open from 7am-5:30pm Monday through Friday and closes its doors at 4:45pm on Saturdays. The deli stops serving lunches at 1:45pm. For more information, you can go to Ecklof Bakery on Facebook or call 716-488-1516 to ask questions or to place an order.