Trefzger’s Bakery is Peoria’s oldest operating bakery. They’ve been serving up sweet treats for over 150 years and they’ve been located in the same storefront on Prospect since the early ‘50’s. That’s going to change after the new year and they’ve announced that they’re going to be expanding and moving, which is exciting news! Let’s go and see if we can get a tour of Trefzger’s in its current location and if we’re lucky, maybe we can get a sneak peek at the new location as well!
Here we are Trefzger’s location on Prospect. They’ve been on this corner as long as I can remember.
Let’s go inside and see what’s happening inside of Peoria’s oldest bakery.
One thing you’ll never see in here is an empty front room. There’s always people in here and during the holiday season, sometimes they’re lined up outside of the door.
And the reason they pack them in here at Trefzger’s is because everything is made from scratch and a lot of the goodies in here are made from the original recipes handed down through the years. Let’s take a look at some of the wonderful items housed in the cases here that line this side of the bakery.
Those pie tarts look amazing!
And if a tart is too small to satisfy that sweet tooth, here’s the full-sized pies over here.
I would guess that the Thumbprint Cookies are the biggest seller in here. I know that they’re my favorite thing in here!
And of course there’s cakes here in the cases and notice the unplanned obligatory mirror shot happening. I think we all know by now that I love it when that happens! But cakes aren’t only found in the cases down here...
They also line the wall up here directly below the ceiling. These are specialty decorated cakes, let’s take a look at a couple of them...
This makes me think of Captain Jinks and Salty Sam out on the SS Albatross!
And standing directly below the cakes and looking just as sweet is Leah, who’s worked here for two months now.
There’s two people behind the counter that we definitely have to go say hi to...
It’s Jeff and Martha Huebner, who have owned and operated Trefzger’s since 1993. Really great to meet both of them. Jeff volunteered to give a tour of what goes on behind the store front...
And off we go, this guy doesn’t waste any time!
This is the cake area where those specialty cakes are baked and frosted with buttercream icing.
Kayla’s one of the cake decorator’s here and she took a break in the action to pose for the MBIP camera.
This is Phoebe helping out with the frosting and Jeff told me that she was born the day that they took the bakery over on July 7th, 1993. That date brought back memories as the was the same day that I moved to New York City. And finding out that Phoebe was born on that day really makes me feel old! Let’s move on before I get any more depressed!
There’s another baking area back in this room, who knew this place was so big?
This is where the bread and rolls are made.
Stephanie is hard at work here and she’s been working in the bakery for over 11 years now, a real veteran! She also maintains their facecrack page, so hopefully she’ll share this post!
The bread is baking over here in these industrial ovens...
Wow, they look and smell heavenly!
Jeff told me these sesame rolls are a new creation in here and they’re selling briskly.
Chris is working on cookies over here.
This scale is one of the oldest machines back here...Holy Toledo! (Sorry, it had to be done!)
Jeff’s at work filling up this monster of a mixer. This mixer churns up 450 pounds of buttercream every day! Check out the video below to see it in action at the 1:40 minute mark.
Remember I told you that Trefzger’s are moving to a new location after the new year? Well, Jeff said he’d take us there so we could have a look at the space before it gets revamped into the new and improved Trefzger’s Bakery.
And it’s off we go and as you can see a sudden rain shower has started to rain down upon us.
The building that they’re moving into is just up the road on East Sciota Avenue, which is just off Prospect.
And here it is, it was last used to house the Grayboy Motor Sports business, but they moved out and after the new year, Trefzger’s will move in.
Jeff said he’d give us a tour and we could take some photos of the space before it gets remodeled.
The building has been standing here since 1895 and Jeff said they were happy to be moving into an historical building here in Peoria Heights.
Up there in front is where the bakery and front counter section will be placed.
As you can see, the space is pretty raw and it needs a lot of work, but Jeff said they’re confident they can open up in here after the new year.
The building is 11,000 square feet and is two stories tall. Jeff told me that they plan on using the second floor for events and parties. I took a bunch more photos of this space and so when the new Trefzger’s opens, I can do a before and after post. Jeff wanted me to stress that until the new place is open, they’ll continue to do business out of their current location on Prospect. Thanks to Jeff and Martha for a fun tour of one of Peoria’s sweetest spots! We’ll see you all tomorrow!
Trefzger’s Bakery
3504 N Prospect
Peoria, Illinois
309-685-9221
facecrack page
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