About us

Original Owners, Hans & Traudy Birkner

Hans' Bakery was the American dream of German immigrants, Hans and Traudy Birkner. Although, Hans brought his traditional recipes of cakes and doughnuts over from the 'old country,' he quickly realized that they would need to be modified to satisfy the American sweet tooth. After achieving success at two other local bakeries, Hans came across a former fast food building in Anoka, Minnesota that was perfectly positioned between two schools, on bustling 5th Avenue. Soon after, Hans' Bakery was born!  From the day it opened in 1973, Hans' was a family affair. The Birkner children still tell stories of cleaning under the bakery cases when they were small enough to fit underneath them. It didn't take long for the neighborhood to become "family" too. Local men and women gathered around large round tables for coffee and a slice of Hans' famous German Beehive, while children rushed in to grab a their favorite Texas doughnuts before class.

Beloved Anoka Hans’ Bakery, closed in 2010, got a second chance with Kelly Olsen. Since 2014, Bakery was reopened and has brought back the traditional German recipes that made this bakery popular - rye bread, pastries, Black Forest cakes, as well as the famous almond cream and coffee cake.

Now the bakery shelves are filled with our usual products - Apple fritters, cinnamon twists, donuts, pastries, cookies, cakes, cupcakes, fruit tarts! All that and more is waiting for you on our shelves today! We hope to see you at Hans'!😍
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Thank you to every person who has helped bring Hans' Bakery back to life. I am forever grateful! -Kelly Olsen