MEDIA ADVISORY

By The Dozen Bakery to Open

Second Location in Harvard, Illinois

on December 1, 2020

Today, By The Dozen Bakery Owner Brent Nelson announced that By The Dozen Bakery – headquartered in Machesney Park, Illinois – will open a second location at the former Swiss Maid Bakery at 104 E Brainard Street in Harvard, Illinois on Tuesday, December 1, 2020.

Brent’s partners in the project are Practical Baker Inc. and Arrow Aluminum Manufacturing Owner John Stricker, who will bring more efficiencies to the company by providing the latest equipment innovations to help in production automation, and Swiss Maid Bakery owner Paul Stricker, who will help ensure that By The Dozen Bakery also offers all of the products that his bakery has been known for since the 1920’s.

“Since Swiss Maid Bakery in Harvard has been closed for a year and a half, I’m delighted to partner with John and Paul to bring back the Stricker family recipes by slowly rolling out the product line,” said By The Dozen Bakery Owner Brent Nelson. “All of the products from By The Dozen Bakery's current location and the products from the former Swiss Maid Bakery will eventually be available at both locations.”

“Due to COVID-19, the temporary hours of By The Dozen Bakery in Harvard will be 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM Tuesday through Saturday,” said Nelson. “By The Dozen Bakery is dedicated to the safety of our customers and our staff. We will be practicing all guidelines set by the McHenry County Health Department, and we will be limiting the number of people allowed in the lobby to ensure social distancing is possible for the safety of everyone.”

ABOUT BRENT NELSON & BY THE DOZEN BAKERY
Brent Nelson became owner of his family business - By The Dozen Bakery Inc. - in 2015 when his parents retired. Brent is a fourth generation bakery owner, who has worked in the bakery all of his life. By the Dozen Bakery recently celebrated 25 years at its headquarters location - 8324 N. 2nd Street in Machesney Park, Illinois. By The Dozen Bakery is known for their large variety of doughnuts and high quality cakes. Brent is excited to bring back the products everyone grew up with in the City of Harvard and to expand the product line at his Machesney Park location.

ABOUT JOHN STRICKER
John Stricker is the owner of Practical Baker Inc. and Arrow Aluminum Manufacturing in Harvard, Illinois. Together, these companies manufacture, sell, and service bakery equipment to produce items faster and easier without compromising quality. John is the fifth of six boys raised in the family bakery, and he worked at Swiss Maid Bakery until graduating from college. John’s role will be to bring more efficiencies to By The Dozen Bakery through providing the latest equipment innovations to help in production automation.

ABOUT PAUL STRICKER
Brent and John are bringing this legendary bakery’s products back to the City of Harvard and the surrounding area with the help from John's brother and former owner Paul Stricker. Paul Stricker became the owner of Swiss Maid Bakery in 1987 along with two of his brothers. He continued the family tradition set by his great grandparents in the 1920’s. Paul and Laura Stricker retired and sold the bakery in 2018; however, the business was returned to him in early 2019 in distressed conditions. The debt accumulated by the temporary owner and the lack of maintenance on the equipment was too much to overcome. He was forced to make the decision to close. Paul will be helping Brent and John in the bakery when it opens to make all of the products that his bakery was known for since the 1920’s.

ABOUT THE PARKS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The mission of The Parks Chamber is to help businesses succeed with the right tools, connections, and resources. We produce world-class events to help promote and connect our members to each other and to the community. We advocate for a competitive business climate, collaborating with public, private, and nonprofit partner organizations to help our region emerge from this economic downturn early, equitably, and sustainably. We’re proud to also provide customized and innovative technology tools to help members promote and sell their products and services online.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
By The Dozen Bakery

Brent Nelson
815.943.7282
www.Bythe12bakery.com

The Parks Chamber
Tonya Lamia
815.633.3999