Lyndell’s Bakery will remain open in Somerville.

By Cathleen Twardzik

Sauntering into Lyndell’s Bakery will prove to be a sensory sensation. The cupcakes, bread and everything else that is baked there are all made from scratch.

Interestingly, Lyndell’s Bakery is the oldest business in Somerville – or one of them – but just how old is it? “I believe it is [the oldest business in Somerville]. I know, for sure, that we’re the oldest scratch bakery in New England. I’ve been told a few years ago that we’re one of the top 10 oldest retail scratch bakeries in the country. We’re 137 years old this year,” said Bill Galatis, Owner of Lyndell’s Bakery.

The bakery was founded by Birger Lindahl, a Swedish immigrant. “He came to America in 1882, and then, he opened the bakery in 1887. They [changed] his last name to the current spelling of Lyndell,” said Galatis.

It’s time for a micro history of the bakery. “I purchased it in 2000 – and I’m the fourth owner in its history,” he said. Between inaugural owner, Birger Lindahl and Bill Galatis, the current owner, Lyndell’s was owned by Eugene Klemm and Albert Klemm, and then, by Herman Kett and Janet Kett.

If development happens on the property, then, the bakery will not close. That is a paramount issue, regarding this bakery, to many residents of Somerville. “We’re currently looking for other sites in the immediate area. We’ve been looking for sites for a couple of months, now. So, the game plan is not to close,” he said.

Instead, “The game plan is to find a new location and move – and if we have to close, we wouldn’t close [for] more than a week – just to move everything.”

Since Marshmallow Fluff was invented in Somerville, does the bakery offer items that use it? The answer was quite a surprise. “Actually, we don’t use Fluff at all. We really don’t have any products that we need Fluff for,” said Galatis.

However, Lyndell’s offers copious sweet treats to cater to anyone’s specific taste.

They create every item that they sell from scratch. Impressively, “We make our own custard. We make our own whipped cream. We make our own chocolate,” he said.

Now, for a very yummy Lyndell’s favorite: “The half-moons (as opposed to a cookie dough [are] a cake dough) and, we use a variation of our regular cake frosting for all of our half-moons,” said Galatis.

What are a few of the best-selling items? If you guessed half-moons, then, you are correct. Also, “Our Danish pastries that are made fresh every day,” said Galatis.

Impressively, “We do a little over 12,000 custom-decorated cakes a year,” he said. Those cakes range in size, number of servings and occasion – such as “elegant, fancy wedding cakes.”

A magnitude of customers visit the bakery frequently during the week, many of whom purchase doughnuts and coffee.

Then, there are customers with more specific reasons for a trip to the bakery. “We have regulars that come in that buy custom-decorated cakes to celebrate any-and-all celebrations or traditions that they have in their families – whether it be: birthdays, anniversaries, Communions, confirmations [or] graduations. I think that’s the beauty of Lyndell’s. Families have come in for generations and generations and allowed us to make their cakes for their celebrations,” said Galatis.

Individuals come back to the bakery for a plethora of reasons. “People always enjoy things that are being handmade – as well as being fresh. I think they enjoy the experience of our staff and the products that we offer to them. We make fresh, quality products,” he said.

What will be the future of the bakery, and what would be good to add to it? “It depends on where we end up going – but, if we end up going with a larger space, then, that could very well be the case.”

Further, “We might think about offering some packaged products. We might think about extending our beverage line. Right now, we sell hot coffee and iced coffee. We might think about expanding that line, as well – and, probably, doing additional Italian products,” said Galatis.

In a different vein, “We’ve got some small accounts – where maybe, somebody has an office party and will order a considerable amount of cupcakes, or sheet cakes or other kinds of treats in order to celebrate whatever they’re celebrating in their office or at the organization that they work at,” he said.

“We would particularly like to thank our loyal customers, and we enjoy doing what we do. [We] enjoy serving Somerville – and the greater Somerville area.”

The most satisfying part of owning Lyndell’s is, “All of the smiles. That’s the best part,” said Galatis.

Lyndell’s Bakery, which is located at 720 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02144, is open from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Monday, and from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday to Saturday.

The bakery is still such a great part of the Somerville community. Customers may contact it at 617-625-1793 or on their website, which is Lyndell’s Bakery (lyndells.com).

It’s time to skedaddle over to Lyndell’s, and select your daily coffee or iced coffee with doughnuts, pies or cookies.