The History of Dorothy Ann Bakery
Who is Dorothy Ann? Is she --or was she-- a real person? Is she just a corporate image, masterminded by an advertising agency?
To answer those questions you must go back a long way, back to the days when baking and rolling the dough were all done by hand and the cost of a blueberry muffin was two cents.
A St. Paul baker named Ed Durin owned several bakeries. His wife was also his business partner, waiting on customers with a cheery smile. To honor her, Ed named one of his bakeries after her. In 1951, when Ed was retiring, Walter Grochowski purchased one of Ed's bakeries. It was located on East 7th Street near the 3M tape plant. Since that bakery already had a good reputation and good clientèle, Wally decided not to change the name, even though the bakery had the name of Ed's wife Dorothy Ann!
It proved to be a good name. Wally's Business also thrived and in 1962 he brought Dorothy Ann Bakery to the Sun Ray Shopping Center. The bakery is now owned and operated by Wally's daughter Joan and her husband Steve Conway. In October of 1988, the tradition of good taste continued as Joan and Steve opened the Dorothy Ann Bakery & Cafe in Royal Center, Woodbury. In 1993, the Dorothy Ann Bakery expanded to another location in Woodbury at the City Centre Shoppes. In 2006, the Dorothy Ann Bakery and Cafe moved from Royal Center to a new location on the east side of Woodbury, in the Crossroads Commerce Center.
Even Though the original Dorothy Ann no longer waits on customers, her name still stands for friendly service and a tradition of good taste.
Achievements
2007 "Best of Weddings", The Knot
Lillie Suburban Newspapers Reader's Choice Award
- 2005 Best Place to Buy Fresh Bakery Goods
- 2004 Best Place to Buy Fresh Bakery Goods
- 1997 Best Place to Buy Fresh Bakery Goods
Marketplace 1999 Convention Chairman, Retailer's Bakery Association -Steve Conway
1995 "Baker of the Year" from the Minnesota Baker's Association - Steve Conway
1995 Reader's Choice Award Woodbury South Maplewood Review
- Best Place To Buy Homemade Bakery Goods
- Best Catering
1991 Minnesota Baker's Association Citation, Retail Baker's of America
Proud Supporters of:
- Woodbury High School
- East Ridge High School
- New Life Academy
- Math & Science Academy
- Tartan High School
- Harding High School
- Hill-Murray High School
- Stillwater High School
- St. Thomas Academy
- Park High School
- North St. Paul High School
- South St. Paul High School
- De la Salle High School
- Cretin-Derham High School
- Roseville High School
- Mounds View High School
- Bailey Elementary
- Liberty Ridge Elementary
- Middleton Elementary
- Lake Jr. High
- Woodbury Jr. High
- St. Pascal's Church
- Habitat For Humanity
- Make a Wish Foundation
- Relay for Life
- United Way
- Breast Cancer Awareness
- Lupus Foundation
- Dorothy Day Center
- Little Sisters of the Poor
- Echo Ridge Senior Center
- Festival of Trees-Children's Hospital
- Cupcakes for a Cause
- Guardian Angels Church
- Arch Diocees of St. Paul
- Woodbury Athletic Association
- Woodbury Athletic Hockey Club
- St. Paul Rookies Fastpitch
- University of Minnesota Athletic Department
- Woodbury Chamber of Commerce
- Woodbury Fire Department
- Woodbury Police Department
- Woodbury Park and Recreation Department