Dundalk Bakery Closing After 103 Years in Business

Herman's Bakery, a Baltimore family business, will shut its doors on March 31 due to illness among family members.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 2:04am

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After over a century of serving the Baltimore community, Herman's Bakery is closing its doors on March 31. The bakery, which first opened in Highlandtown in 1923, has seen multiple generations of the Herman family run the business. However, recent illnesses among family members have led the current owner, Harry Herman Jr., to make the difficult decision to shutter the iconic bakery.

Why it matters

Herman's Bakery has been a beloved institution in the Baltimore area, known for its special desserts and cakes that have helped create memories for generations of customers. The closure marks the end of an era for this family-owned business that has weathered the changes in the city over the past century.

The details

The Dundalk location of Herman's Bakery, which opened in 1958, is the last remaining location of the once-expansive bakery business. Harry Herman Jr., who now owns the bakery, cited recent illnesses among family members as the primary reason for the closure, as the family felt it was best to close the business before its reputation suffered. Since announcing the impending closure on social media, the bakery has seen an outpouring of support from loyal customers who are rushing to say goodbye and purchase their favorite treats one last time.

  • Herman's Bakery first opened in Highlandtown in 1923.
  • The Dundalk location of the bakery opened on December 5, 1958.
  • The bakery will close its doors for the final time on March 31, 2026.

The players

Harry Herman Jr.

The current owner of Herman's Bakery, who has decided to close the business after over 100 years due to recent illnesses among family members.

Harry Herman Sr.

The previous owner of Herman's Bakery, who took over the business and opened multiple locations, including the Dundalk site.

Herman's Bakery

A family-owned bakery in Baltimore that has been in business for over 103 years, known for its special desserts and cakes.

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What they’re saying

“Recently, a number of the family members have been stricken with illnesses. Some of them are getting a little older as time goes on, so we, as a family business, made a decision that it was probably best for us to close so as to not have our reputation maybe tarnished over time.”

— Harry Herman Jr., Owner, Herman's Bakery (WBAL-TV 11 News)

“I've known about this place since I was a little girl.”

— Margaret Franklin (WBAL-TV 11 News)

“It's a staple. I came today to get a strawberry shortcake to show my support.”

— Customer (WBAL-TV 11 News)

What’s next

The bakery will close its doors for the final time on March 31, 2026, marking the end of over a century of history in the Baltimore community.

The takeaway

The closure of Herman's Bakery, a beloved Baltimore institution, is a bittersweet moment that highlights the challenges of maintaining a family-owned business over multiple generations. While the bakery's legacy of special desserts and cakes will be missed, the outpouring of support from loyal customers shows the deep impact this bakery has had on the community.