Saving the Lundberg Bakery

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In 1876, a Swedish immigrant named Charles Lundberg decided to bring the sweet smell of fresh-baked bread to downtown Austin. He built a charming stone bakery at 1006 Congress Avenue, an architectural gem tied directly to the city's early immigrant-founded commercial boom. For decades, the ovens kept burning, even after Lundberg sold the business in 1906 and it became the Maerki Baking Company, operating until 1936.

But as downtown modernized, this historic brick-and-stone structure faced the wrecking ball. Thankfully, the Austin Heritage Society and the Junior League stepped in to rescue the building from demolition in 1963. It was saved, restored, and eventually reopened in October 1976.

Today, it stands proud as a city-owned artisan emporium, proving that some of the best designs are worth saving.

Updated June 2026