Deer field Bakery President Tim Schmitt Photography by Jim Prisching

When it comes to upholding an enduring reputation for making delectable baked goods, Deerfields Bakery takes the cake. Owned and operated by the Schmitt family, under the leadership of President Tim Schmitt, the bakery’s three locations in Deerfield, Buffalo Grove, and Schaumburg are known for their high-quality products, friendly staff, and welcoming atmospheres.

The Schmitt family has been in the baking business since 1886, when Tim’s great-great-grandfather, Adam Schmitt, opened a bakery in Germany. After immigrating to America in 1911, the family started its first bakery in Chicago, which grew to about 30 locations over the next 50 years. After a break from the business in the 1960s, the family started afresh when Tim’s grandfather, Henry, purchased a family-owned bakery in Deerfield in 1972. Deerfield Bakery, as it was then called, quickly became a community favorite. By 1993, the Schmitt family had opened another location in Buffalo Grove, and thus changed the business name to “Deerfields Bakery.” Finally, in 2001, the Schmitt family opened a third branch in Schaumburg.

Today, the three locations continue to impress Chicagoland customers with their inventive and delicious products. The Buffalo Grove store features a café and drive-thru with breakfast and lunch products, smoothies, and specialty coffee drinks. As the largest branch, it also houses customer service, as well as the commissary where employees make baked goods for all three locations (with the exception of gluten-free products, which are baked at the Schaumburg store). The bakeries serve up pastries, donuts, cakes, cookies, pies, tortes, bread, and much more. Whether you’re looking for a mid-morning snack or a special occasion cake, Deerfields Bakery has nearly any option you can imagine.

In a world of constant change, the team at Deerfields Bakery also understands the importance of keeping up with new trends in the baking industry. Since its opening, the bakery has introduced a gluten-free product line, which has been very successful, and is currently planning a sugar-free line. Prior to the launch of the new lines, the staff puts a great deal of research and thought into the product development process. “With the reputation we have, and the expectations our customers have, it is important that what we develop meets the standards we believe in and that we built our business on,” Tim says. “We want it to be the right product so our customers love it.”

This October, Deerfields Bakery is celebrating 125 years of baking in the Schmitt family. In honor of the anniversary, visitors can take advantage of special promotions and deals throughout the month. They can also participate in the bakery’s “Share a Slice” program, which invites customers to share their fondest Deerfields Bakery memory or story (by visiting one of the stores or logging on to the bakery’s website or Facebook page). A few of the best stories will be highlighted during a special event on October 15 at the Buffalo Grove location. The general public is welcome at the event, which will feature an extravagant birthday cake. Though the details of the cake are under wraps, it’s sure to be something worth seeing.

The anniversary celebration will not only be for Deerfields Bakery itself, but also for the communities that it serves. In an effort to give back to the people who have supported the bakery for so many years, Tim and his staff are continually involved in the community. At the end of each day, they give leftover products to food pantries, churches, synagogues, and other charitable organizations. They have also donated items for local fund-raisers, become involved with Haiti and Japan disaster relief efforts, and participated in events to benefit organizations such as the National MS Society and the Celiac Disease Foundation.

Above all, the team at Deerfields Bakery desires to show its support for the people who have been a part of their company’s history. Over the years, they have had many customers celebrate significant occasions, throughout their entire lives, with products from Deerfields Bakery. “We are an intimate part of people’s lives,” Tim says. “I used to say, ‘We’re the sweet center of special celebrations.’ With that comes a lot of responsibility and a lot of joy.”

Deerfields Bakery is located at 813 North Waukegan Road in Deerfield, 201 North Buffalo Grove Road in Buffalo Grove, and 25 South Roselle Road in Schaumburg. For more information, call 847-520-0068, or visit deerfieldsbakery.com.