Welcome to the Avenue Bakery!
Home of Poppay’s Rolls
It is our mission to provide unique products freshly baked here in our community on our historic Pennsylvania Avenue. It is also our mission to support the efforts of the “The Royal Theater & Community Heritage Corporation” to pass the history and legacy of this great community that contributed so much to both our city and our country. Our lobby is dedicated to the history of our community and we sincerely thank all who are continuing to help strengthen our neighborhoods.
Our bakery opened in August 15, 2011 by James “Jim” Hamlin. At the time, Jim was retired and wanted to give back to the community he grew up in. He always loved his mother’s rolls. When she stopped baking them he decided to give it a try. Without her recipe he experimented for a while and finally got it right. He has been baking them for his family and friends for over 30 years.
In an effort to bring people back to Baltimore’s Historic Pennsylvania Avenue he decided to open up his bakery there. He met with a lot of skepticism from those who thought the bakery was just “too risky” in this down market. Luckily for us, Jim took the risk. Soon thereafter people from all over Maryland have visited “The Avenue Bakery” to taste Jim’s enormous “Poppay’s Rolls” and delicious selection of breads, cakes, pies, and pastries.
Jim (Poppay the name given him by his grand- daughter Bria) is what has given the rolls he makes the name “Poppay’s Rolls”. His unique rolls are often described as; rolls like my mom, grandmother or aunt use to make, by his loyal
customers. Now into the fourth year in business “The Avenue Bakery has sold well over 85,000 rolls to customers all over the state and visitors from California, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York.
“Poppay’s Rolls” are not the only thing unique at “The Avenue Bakery”. When you walk in the customer area the walls are covered with trail markers and picture that tell the African American story in Baltimore. It highlights the Pennsylvania Avenue Heritage Trail which is a historic walking trail that is part of the Star Spangled Trails.
Jim has always and continues to strive to maintain and operate the bakery with a high level of integrity. Quality, taste, uniqueness, and freshness have always been the hallmark of The Avenue Bakery.
