NEW ULM — The Backerei & Coffee Shop has long been a fixture in downtown New Ulm, known for its fresh breads, donuts and pastries and for serving as a gathering place for local residents.

“I always wanted this to be a place where people could come in, feel welcome, and just enjoy being here,” owner Amanda Hacker said.

The bakery, which also offers breakfast and lunch items along with a full coffee bar, is owned by Amanda Hacker and her husband, Craig “Bill” Hacker. The couple purchased the business on July 1, 2019.

Both owners have deep roots in New Ulm. Amanda was born in Robbinsdale and moved to New Ulm at the age of five, while Craig is a lifelong New Ulm resident. Both graduated from New Ulm High School.

Amanda’s love of baking began early and was inspired by her grandmother, who worked as a baker at Randall’s grocery store in New Ulm.

“I always remember going over to her place and baking with her and trying her treats,” Amanda said. “I don’t know, I just get my baking from her.”

Before taking ownership of The Backerei & Coffee Shop, Amanda trained with previous owners Jerry and Cindy Houser, beginning in February 2019.

“I came in just to learn the business — yeast baking and all that,” she said. “I hadn’t really done a lot of yeast baking before.”

Many of the bakery’s core recipes date back to the 1930s, when the business was owned by Jim Tillman, and those long-standing recipes are still used today.

The bakery’s baking crew comes in at 11 p.m. each night to bake the breads, buns, and donuts fresh every single night. “They are amazing,” Amanda said, “and three of the bakers have been with us since 2019.”

Since taking over, the Hackers have expanded the menu while continuing to offer traditional favorites. One popular addition is the rotating “donut of the week,” introduced in 2019.

“It gives everyone something different that they can try,” Amanda said.

The bread selection has also grown and now includes sourdough and a cranberry wild rice loaf, which Amanda said has become especially popular.

A major remodel, completed in the fall of 2025, brought new seating, updated tables and a full coffee bar.

The beverage menu includes espresso drinks, cold brew made with beans roasted by Beans Coffee Company in North Mankato, Lotus energy drinks, Red Bull mixers, dirty sodas and milkshakes made with Bridgman’s ice cream. Grab-and-go lunch items and hot panini sandwiches are also available.

“I always wanted to do the remodel,” Amanda said. “I always wanted to add coffee and all this stuff. It’s like my dream has finally happened.”

Customers have responded positively to the changes.

“Every day someone comes in and says, ‘Oh my gosh, it looks so nice in here,'” Amanda said. “That’s exactly what I wanted, for it to feel updated, welcoming and homey.”

Regular customers John McDuffie and Jim Heath said they’ve been coming to the bakery more often since other downtown gathering spots have closed.

“We used to go to Bookshelves and Coffee,” McDuffie said. “Now we’re trying to find a new place, and we’ve been coming here pretty much all the time.”

The bakery’s growth extends beyond its retail location. A wholesale operation supplies donuts and baked goods to gas stations, restaurants and businesses in New Ulm, Sleepy Eye, Morgan and St. Peter, including the St. Peter Food Co-op.

Two delivery vans serve the region, and bakery items are also sold at Beans Coffee Company’s storefront in North Mankato.

“Usually they end up calling us,” Amanda said. “That fills a need.”

The Backerei & Coffee Shop employs five full-time and approximately 20 part-time employees.

The owners emphasize a supportive workplace culture.

“They’re like family,” Amanda said. “You can’t put a price on having good coworkers.”

Store manager Sarah Smith, who moved to New Ulm from Redding, California, while attending MSU South Central, oversees the drink menu and store décor.

“She lets me do a lot of things I didn’t think I’d be able to do, like curating the entire drink menu,” Smith said. “It’s a lot of fun.”

Smith said the atmosphere among staff is one of the reasons she enjoys working at the bakery.

“When I was going through a hard time, she was there every step of the way,” Smith said. “It really makes a difference.”

The Hackers balance running the bakery with raising four children: Brody, Riley, Alyvia and Faith, whose ages range from elementary school to college and who help out at the bakery at times.

Despite its long history, Amanda said some residents are still discovering the bakery.

“We get people coming in saying, ‘I’ve lived here for five years and didn’t know you were here,'” she said. “So we’re just trying to figure out how to reach those people and keep giving customers what they want.”

Operating hours have also expanded in recent years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the bakery closed at 1:30 p.m.

The Backerei & Coffee Shop, located at 27 S. Minnesota St., now opens at 6 a.m. and remains open until 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and from 6 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturdays, giving customers more opportunities to stop in throughout the day.