ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI - FOX2now.com) -
A St. Louis bakery wins a nation-wide honor and the prize is a make-over and a visit from an American icon. After 70 years in business, Lubeley's Bakery at 7815 Watson Road in Marlborough celebrated the honor and 70 years in business Saturday.
It was the first time the Pillsbury dough boy had ever there. The life-sized mascot ran into a mob scene.
It was a standing room only crowd inside the newly expanded bakery. Bakery founder, Helen Lubeley, said she'd never seen it so packed. You'd figure she'd seen it all.
The business has had four locations since she and her husband, Edward, started it at Kingshighway and Neosho in South St. Louis during the Great Depression. He'd lost his job at the bakery where they both worked.
"When it got slow, my boss took my husband's job. He was out of job and so he said, 'well that does it we'll get our own place'," she recalled.
The Pillsbury prize helped Lubeley's expand with a new dining area and a new look.
"New counters, new shelves, painting, new display racks, new artwork," said Helen Lubeley-Murray, who now owns the business along with her brother. "That took care of it pretty much."
"Lubeley's wrote an essay about why they wanted to change and modernize," said Chip Levers of Pillsbury's parent company, General Mills.
He said the Lubeley's story stood out among the 150 bakeries entering the makeover contest; that, and the food, of course.
"Apple turnovers," was a favorite one customer named.
"The cakes," added a young boy.
"I was looking to see if they had some kind of caramel roll," added long time customer, Jean Hohn.
Then there were the homemade cookies, for just about any theme: from Albert Pujols jerseys to Super Bowl 43: Cardinals versus Steelers helmet cookies; just another part of what the folks at General Mills and Pillsbury said made Lubeley's more than just a bakery.
"There was a lady in here introducing herself to Mrs. Lubeley, probably worked for her 40 years ago when she was 16," Levers said. "That's been happening in here all morning. This place is part of the community."
So much so, that at age 96, Helen Lubeley's still coming to work every day.
It was the first time the Pillsbury dough boy had ever there. The life-sized mascot ran into a mob scene.
It was a standing room only crowd inside the newly expanded bakery. Bakery founder, Helen Lubeley, said she'd never seen it so packed. You'd figure she'd seen it all.
The business has had four locations since she and her husband, Edward, started it at Kingshighway and Neosho in South St. Louis during the Great Depression. He'd lost his job at the bakery where they both worked.
"When it got slow, my boss took my husband's job. He was out of job and so he said, 'well that does it we'll get our own place'," she recalled.
The Pillsbury prize helped Lubeley's expand with a new dining area and a new look.
"New counters, new shelves, painting, new display racks, new artwork," said Helen Lubeley-Murray, who now owns the business along with her brother. "That took care of it pretty much."
"Lubeley's wrote an essay about why they wanted to change and modernize," said Chip Levers of Pillsbury's parent company, General Mills.
He said the Lubeley's story stood out among the 150 bakeries entering the makeover contest; that, and the food, of course.
"Apple turnovers," was a favorite one customer named.
"The cakes," added a young boy.
"I was looking to see if they had some kind of caramel roll," added long time customer, Jean Hohn.
Then there were the homemade cookies, for just about any theme: from Albert Pujols jerseys to Super Bowl 43: Cardinals versus Steelers helmet cookies; just another part of what the folks at General Mills and Pillsbury said made Lubeley's more than just a bakery.
"There was a lady in here introducing herself to Mrs. Lubeley, probably worked for her 40 years ago when she was 16," Levers said. "That's been happening in here all morning. This place is part of the community."
So much so, that at age 96, Helen Lubeley's still coming to work every day.
