Author Mary Perren, WKVI
A local institution for seven decades is the Starke County Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year. Fingerhut Bakery’s famous buttercream coffee cake recipe dates to Bohemia in the 1700s. It’s just one of the legendary products offered at the North Judson, Knox and Bass Lake stores. Owner Keith Fingerhut is a sixth-generation baker and works alongside his sons, Doug and Greg each night to ensure fresh, flaky pastries and breads for their loyal customers six days a week.
The Fingerhut family was honored Thursday night. Starke County Chamber Board member Sarah Lawrence read from the comments received by the nominating committee, including several from bakery employees.
“We are more like a family than coworkers…The quality of our products are better than anything out there…Fingerhut Bakery is a tremendous place to work…Been in business for 70 years, must be doing something right.”
All three Fingerhut Bakery locations were nominated individually. Lawrence says the committee’s favorite comment was the proverbial icing on the cake.
“Providing the Starke County area with the items we need to get up in the morning and make the world go ’round. Here’s to coffee and donuts, cheers!”
Keith Fingerhut accepted the award on behalf of the entire family.
“The wives, they have to put up with a lot for this nighttime stuff, but if you don’t do it at night, you don’t have fresh donuts in the morning. I thank you all for the award. Thank you.”
The plate of custom Bicentennial Torch Relay cookies at the Bass Lake Fire Station didn’t last very long. That’s where the torch was officially handed off from Pulaski to Starke County during last month’s celebration.
The Fingerhut Bakery location in North Judson did a custom banana cake with cream cheese frosting for WKVI News Director Mary Perren’s recent celebration. It was almost, but not quite, too pretty to eat.
