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Backerei’s new owners living their dream

NEW ULM — Amanda and Bill Hacker took over July 1, 2019 as owners of The Backerei, New Ulm’s oldest and best known bakery and coffee shop. And in doing so, they are fulfilling Amanda’s dream of someday having her own bakery.

Amanda’s grandmother, Georgiana Swantz, had worked in the bakery at Randall Foods many years ago. “I kind of got my passion for that from her,” said Amanda.

As New Ulm natives, both the Hackers had grown up getting doughnuts and rolls from The Backerei — “Everyone knows that the Backerei has the best rolls,” said Amanda.

Amanda’s passion for baking grew. For the past few years she had been baking out of her kitchen part time, making cupcakes, cookies and cakes for special orders and occasions.

“I always thought I’d like to start a bakery of my own,” she said.

About a year ago, she heard that The Backerei’s owners, Jerry and Cindy Hauser, were interested in selling the bakery they had owned for 25 years and were willing to hire someone to come work with them, learn the business and if all worked out well, buy it from them.

Amanda jumped on the opportunity, starting to work with Hausers for a week or two to see if she could handle it. Running a bakery is a lot different from working out of your home kitchen, she found, but she enjoyed the work and decided she could handle it.

She and Bill talked it over, and soon he gave notice at his job to come on board at the bakery.

The Hausers celebrated their last day at The Backerei with free doughnuts for their loyal customers on June 29. On Monday, July 1, the bakery opened for business as usual, with the Hackers behind the counter.

The new business has been a big change for the Hackers and their four children, Brody, 12, Riley, 11, Alyvia 7, and Faith, 3. Their family life now centers around their family business. Bill goes in to the bakery at 10 p.m. to start baking the bread and buns for the next day. In addition to their own in-store sales, the bakery has a wide list of customers who take delivery of fresh baked good every day.

As Bill and his crew work throughout the night baking the breads, buns, sweet rolls and doughnuts, Amanda stays home with the kids until they head off to school, then she heads to the bakery. The kids come to the bakery after school. Brody is old enough to help out behind the counter.

The customer support for the new owners of The Backerei has been great, said Amanda, and they are very grateful for their support.

There have been a few changes in the business. The Hackers have added a credit card-debit card machine. In the past The Backerei was a cash-only business.

Amanda and Bill have added a couple of different items to the wares they make. Amanda has added a couple of her own recipes, and also a sugar cookie made from a recipe used by Jim Tillmann, an original owner of the bakery. Bill has added a new version of an old favorite, putting apple filling in the traditional cinnamon and cinnamon raisin rolls.

The couple said one request they get the most is to start making schmierkuchen. They would, but they are looking for the right recipe.

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