Sweet Home Chicago: New Book Illuminates History of Local Bakeries
WDCB’s Gary Zidek catches up with author Jennifer Billock to talk about her new book, HISTORIC CHICAGO BAKERIES.
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“(When it comes to) Bakery families, as the generations get older, sometimes they just don’t want to carry on the tradition. That happened with the Swedish Bakery in Andersonville, they had children, but the children didn’t want to take over the business, so they closed, because there was no one to take over.” - HISTORIC CHICAGO BAKERIES author Jennifer Billock talking about one of the reasons why some long-running bakeries decide to close.
Author Jennifer Billock
A new book dives deep into the mouth-watering history of Chicago’s most influential bakeries. HISTORIC CHICAGO BAKERIES was written by local travel and food writer Jennifer Billock. She estimates that at one time there were around 7,000 bakeries operating in the city of Chicago. By the early 90s, the number was approximately 440. And today that figure is even lower. From Gonnella to Old Fashioned Doughnuts, the book focuses on a nine decade period between the 1880s and 1970s.
HISTORIC CHICAGO BAKERIES
HISTORIC CHICAGO BAKERIES is available virtually anywhere you can buy books. You can find more information by visiting jenniferbillock.com
Gonnella driver Hank Davia handing out bread downtown for the company’s one hundredth anniversary. Photo credit: Gonnella Baking Company.
