Royalty, presidents, film stars and pie. What do all of these things have in common? Collin Street Bakery in Corsicana, Texas! Known for their fabulous fruit cakes and pecan everything, you’re sure to find something that will meet your sweet tooth craving!
Sweet History
Starting their business in 1896, Collin Street Bakery has been in operation for well over a hundred years. The original shop was located on…? You guessed it! Collin Street. And though the flagship shop may have been torn down 50 years ago, the legacy remains. However, that doesn’t mean the name didn’t live on. In the early 1900s the business opened another bakery on 6th street, which was not only a bakery, but offered a boutique hotel on the top floor. It wasn’t until the early 1960s that they moved again, to what are now two of their only four operating shops, one of them off of I-20 near Tyler in Lindale, and the other (their largest facility) in Waco near Baylor University.
At the time of its inception, the original owners, August (Gus) Weidmann and Thomas McElwee were already a presence in the community. Weidmann, was a German immigrant and local master baker, while McElwee, who was an entrepreneur, also owned the Opera House and Cotton Gin at the time. As the story goes,
“A group of investors from Nashville, Tennessee purchased the bakery from the widow of founder, Tom McElwee, and Gus Weidmann and his wife, in the mid 1940s. One member of this investment group was Joe McNutt. His grandson, Robert (Bob) McNutt, CEO and president, runs it now. The bakery was owned by descendants of the original investor group for a long time, but they’ve all been bought out, leaving just the McNutt family, and the Crawford family,” says Hayden Crawford, current owner of Collin Street Bakery. He just happens to be a second generation owner, as his father was brought into the ownership group in the early 1960s.
Fame
With two locations in the same town, Corsicana is proud to be the home of such a world famous establishment. That’s right, world famous.
Having been in business for over a century, the bakery now sells to all 50 states, and a whopping 196 countries worldwide. While at the bakery you will find letters and cards framed and put on display throughout the shops. Mementos which have been kept for more than a hundred years. They not only include praise and thanks from people around the globe, but also famous celebrities as well. If you look closely enough, you might find signed photos and little notes from people like Nolan Ryan, Lyle Lovett, Vanna White, Michael York and Chuck Norris. You might even see a signed letter from President George W. Bush, among others.
They attribute their international popularity to John Ringling and his circus. Hayden notes that,
“While performing in Corsicana in the early 1900s (when it was an oil boom town), John Ringling stayed in the boutique hotel above our bakery. He and others from the circus would stash our fruitcakes in their steamer trunks and would give them out to family and friends when they traveled throughout the world. Those folks would then write in to us and request another cake. And thus our mail-order business and popularity began.”
Having received numerous awards and accolades over the years, some of Collin Street’s most notable achievements include the Monde Selection, Brussel’s highly coveted culinary award. The New York Gourmet Society have also honored them. In addition, they were featured in The Dallas Morning News, the Boston Globe, The New York Times, The Miami Herald, The Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal – just to list a few. A testament, clearly, to the amazing treats they offer and the business savvy expertise they have brought to the table (no pun intended) all of these years.
Let’s Eat!
Collin Street Bakery may have an extensive history, and a wide variety of fans out there, but it’s the everyday customer that keeps them in business. Baking roughly a million cakes a year, the business flourishes with business coming in from stopovers pulling in off the highway. Having said that though, Collin Street has a very loyal customer base in every town they are located. When Covid-19’s quarantine came to town, a local community got together and volunteered to deliver their products to neighbors who were sheltering in place.
So with a craving for cake so strong, one has to wonder – what’s the most popular thing on the menu? By far and away, their top selling item is their Deluxe Fruitcake. It is estimated that roughly 2 million of these will be baked and sold this year. That’s a lot of cake! But don’t worry. If it’s not fruitcake you’re in the mood for, there’s a very lengthy list of other tasty treats you can snag while at the famous bakery.
While there are cookies galore, pies and even flavored breads of all kinds, you cannot leave until you’ve tried their Italian cream cake. It is like a little bit of heaven in your mouth. The flavors of the frosting are out of this world, and yes, it tastes even better than it looks – and the presentation is quite spectacular.
And if the cake weren’t delicious enough, you haven’t had apple pie until you’ve tried their Tennessee Apple Pie! Let’s just say, don’t get a slice. You’ll want to get the whole enchillada…or I guess in this case, the whole pie.
Their pecan pie and pecan fudge pie are also popular picks at the bakery, and of course, you can try one of over 30 types of cookies and an array of pastries in case you want to have a sugar binge.
My Experience at Collin Street Bakery
It wasn’t just the cake and pie that had me staying for more. It was also the people. The manager of their I-45 location was one of the friendliest managers I’ve ever met in my life. Warm, personable, friendly, charming, funny and a delight to be around – she is what makes a place like Collin Street Bakery stay in business, and keep their customers loyal.
But of course, the food isn’t bad either. With an endless sampling at my disposal, I had a tasty lunch (that turkey croissant sandwich was the best part of the meal), and an even tastier dessert.
The second location I visited, on 7th Ave., was a much smaller, more humble site. The options, however, were ample. They even had a few things on offer there that they didn’t at the first location. My appetite was shrinking, as my stomach was still recovering from all the food I’d had at the first stop. But I was strong and persevered– managing to get cake and pie in before the end of our visit. I have never had cream cheese frosting before. And now I know what joy tastes like.
One thing is for sure, when you go to Collin Street Bakery – make sure to go hungry!
What Else?
It’s not just cookies, pie, cake and bread that you’ll find here, either. For starters, you can have a casual lunch at either of the two locations that I visited. Grab a chef or chicken salad, or maybe a ham or turkey sandwich on the go with a small bag of flavorful chips for your afternoon meal. Settle off the day with some sweets at the end, and maybe do a little gift shopping. They have everything you can think of to take home as a souvenir or as a gift. Anything from t-shirts, to coffee mugs, to peanut brittle – it’s all on offer!
They’re product is also world class. With a favorable motto of, “If it’s not the best fruitcake you’ve ever baked, bought or eaten, we will give you your money back.” That’s definitely a philosophy most can get behind and appreciate. Which is just one more reason why Collin Street Bakery has achieved so much in so many years.
And aside from their history and famous clientele, their Deluxe Fruitcake tin can carries its own fame. It has been seen in not only The Godfather, but also for the last 3-4 seasons, on the television series, “Duck Dynasty”. They’ve also been featured on television shows including, “The Chew”, on ABC, the Food Network’s, “The Best Thing I Ever Ate”, Travel Channel’s “Jingle Brawls”, and several different features on the History Channel.
Something else sweet to chew on, is that Hollywood has decided to make a movie about a scandal which befell Collin Street in the early 2000s. The bakery’s comptroller, Sandy Jenkins, embezzled a grand total of 17 million dollars in nearly a decade’s time.
Plans to start production are hoped to take place later this year. With Will Ferrell already signed on to play the lead role of Jenkins, and Julianne Moore to play his wife. They say Max Winkler (son of the Fonz himself, Henry Winkler), is set to direct.
Why You Need To Visit
Collin Street Bakery isn’t just another pie or cake shop. It’s a piece of history, and a delightful place to enjoy some dessert. It’s also a place to make your own memories, while reading others’ on the wall.
So the next time you’re unsure about whether or not to order a fruitcake, just remember that Princess Caroline of Monaco is sitting in her palace, eating one from Collin Street Bakery! What are you waiting for? Stop into Collin Street Bakery today! And when you do, make sure to let them know that Lisa sent you!
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