Reportedly the oldest family-owned bakery in Chicago, in business at the same location since 1911, Roeser’s is hard to miss thanks to its iconic neon sign, encouraging travelers along West North Avenue to stop in for something sweet since 1946. (The sign was also crucial to the bakery’s ability to attract customers once foot traffic declined, after the nearby Humboldt Park branch of the “L” train network was dismantled in 1952.) Roeser’s makes its own ice cream in addition to a slew of cakes, cookies, doughnuts and pies; it’s also a preferred stop among those responsible for supplying treats on Pączki Day. Upon the bakery’s 85th anniversary in 1996, its block of West North Avenue was renamed Honorary John C. Roeser Avenue for its founder, who built the business alongside his wife, Hattie.
