Helen Bernhard Bakery is going to need to bake itself a big cake, because it’s turning 100 this year.
This achievement is a wish come true for the namesake baker. When Bernhard opened the Northeast Portland shop in 1924, it was one of the first woman-owned businesses in Portland.
At first, the business was located inside the Bernhard family’s home, but it relocated to Northeast Broadway in 1939 — its current location. When Helen Bernhard died in 1968, ownership was transferred to her son, Ben.
The bakery remains a sweet staple in the community, though ownership has changed a few more times. To give customers a taste of its history, the bakery will offer special cakes each month this year at celebration prices. This month, you’ll find a Boiled Icing Cake , the first cake sold at the bakery.