Omaha Exploration

Updated: January 15, 2025

Antal Holczappal left his native Hungary for more opportunity in the United States in 1912. He found himself in Omaha one year later where he married his wife Mary at the age of 25. By that point Antal had changed his name to Anton Holzapfel and went to work at the Paxton Hotel. The young couple started a family and by 1925 had opened Holzapfel Bakery at 2317 Vinton St while they lived in the upstairs apartment.

For reasons unknown, he would relocate his business to a location near the stockyards in 1942. He remained at this location for five years before a fire originating from the oven destroyed the building off of 27th and J St. Frank Hirs operated a bakery of his own at 10th and Hickory since constructing the brick storeefront in 1926. Anton moved both his family and business into this building at 1708 S 10th St in 1947. They lived with their daughter, Marie, and her husband, Louis Olsen, who attended the cooks and bakers school while serving in the U. S. Marine Corp in San Diego.

Louis went to work with his father-in-law after returning home to Omaha. The bakery was ideally located next to a streetcar stop and situated in the Forest Hill neighborhood which was sandwiched between Little Italy to the east and Little Bohemia to the west. After Anton passed away in 1967, Louis took over and changed the name to the business we recognize today, Olsen’s Bake Shop. His son, Louis Jr, grew up surrounded by bakers having lived in the same house as his parents and grandparents. The younger Louis married Imelda Boehmer in 1956 and would become the third generation of the family to operate the bakery in 1973. Louis Sr passed away in 1990 followed by Louis Jr five years later in 1995.

Since then the fourth generation of the family, Mike, has been running the bakery. The long-running family business has been a mainstay along an ever changing 10th Street corridor that once saw the Gem Theater next door to its south as well as a fire that caused its neighbor to the north, Cascio’s, to rebuild. While some sources claim the bakery opened in 1942, my research shows that it will turn 100 next year.

The well-known bakery has partnered with other local businesses including nearby Orsi’s by allowing it to use their ovens following a fire in 1997. More recently it teamed up Stella’s which places its popular burgers on the equally popular glazed donuts for its donut burger special on Tuesdays. Its glazed donuts were also used by Infusion Brewing to create a donut milk stout in 2022. As recently as of 2023 it was recognized by The Reader as one of the best bakeries and doughnut shops.

I imagine that not much has changed since the days that Anton moved the bakery to this location 77 years ago. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s easy to miss the nondescript building with a smallish retro sign that extends beyond the exterior wall above the entryway. What’s harder to miss are the occasional long lines that form in front of the building along 10th. Once you make your way inside, there are two glass cases filled with donuts, kolaches, pastries, cookies and other treats. Its old school donuts are the star here and are often mentioned as being the best in not only Omaha but the state.

Please feel free to comment and share your memories. Thank you following along. Let’s keep exploring!

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