East Idaho Eats: Geraldine’s keeps it fresh

AMMON — Geraldine’s Bake Shoppe and Deli’s bakery delights, signature soups and sandwiches have kept the store packed with customers for nearly 25 years.

The secret, co-owner Jay Bungard says, is to keep menu items high quality and fresh.

“We do everything in house. We make our bread in house, we slice our meats and cheese in house — everything is made from scratch in house,” Bungard said.

Original owner Geraldine Crookston opened shop in 1992. A few years later Crookston recruited family from Kansas to help. In 1994 her sister and brother-in-law, Merry and Jay Bungard, stepped into the baking scene.

After working at the bakery for almost a decade, the Bungards decided to buy the place in 2001.

“Since we’ve bought it, we’ve expanded the product line. (There are) more sandwiches different kinds of bread, more cookies and sweet rolls and stuff like that,” Bungard said.

They’ve even introduced gluten-free products to the already large menu.

“People that have to have gluten-free (items) have really liked the product,” Bungard said.

And the business is still a family affair. The Bungards, their seven children, and loyal employees are what keep the shop running.

“(Customers) know it’s a hometown business run by people who own it and their family,” Bungard said.

Owners say during the holidays the demand for baked goods are especially high. Geraldine’s has been steadily increasing its daily output of baked goods. Lately it’s averaged 1,200 to 1,600 rolls each day, compared to its usual average of 300 rolls per day.

Workers at Geraldine’s have been keeping up with the holiday demands. They specialize in everything from holiday baskets down to pies and festive cookies.

Customer Sharry Cuevas says her favorites off the menu are a seafood sandwich and a Philly cheesesteak.

“Everything is delicious, and it’s fresh made,” Cuevas said. “We come in here often and grab a sandwich and a cup of soup.”

Bungard said the shop continues to grow, and the staff are having fun trying to keep up with it.

They are thankful for the support they’ve gotten from the community.

“We have a lot of longtime customers, and we have a lot of new customers every day. They always have good things to say, and we appreciate that,” Bungard said.