Frontenac, Kansas · Since 1904
A tradition entrusted to every generation.
The story of The Historic Frontenac Bakery is written in brick, bread, hard work, and the families who have kept its oven baking for more than 120 years.
Our Story
From northern Italy to a Kansas coal town.
The story began in 1904, when Italian immigrant George E. Vacca founded the bakery in the Southeast Kansas coal-mining community of Frontenac.
At the heart of his bakery was a remarkable brick hearth oven—built in 1904 and still producing bread today.
The bakery has weathered changing times, new technologies, and generations of caretakers, yet its purpose has remained remarkably consistent: bake exceptional bread and serve the community with pride. Each family has added its own chapter while respecting the craftsmanship and traditions that came before.
The Living Hearth
The heart of the bakery still burns.
The arched, barrel-vaulted chamber and deeply insulated brick hearth retain the steady heat that gives THFB bread its distinctive crust and soft, chewy interior.
Caretakers since July 7, 2024
Preserving more than recipes.
The Robinson family sees its responsibility as protecting the stories, photographs, traditions, and memories that make this bakery special.
Their goal is simple: honor the generations of bakers who came before, continue making authentic bread in the historic oven, and carry this Southeast Kansas tradition forward.
Generations of Caretakers
Many hands. One enduring tradition.
Each generation accepted the same responsibility: protect the historic family recipe, preserve the remarkable brick oven, and keep Frontenac’s baking tradition alive.
1904–1944
George E. Vacca
After beginning his local baking work around 1900, Italian immigrant George Vacca established the bakery at 211 N. Crawford in 1904. He brought with him the hard-crust Italian bread tradition that remains at the heart of THFB.
1944–1969
Julia and Martin Spritzer
George’s daughter, Julia Vacca Spritzer, and her husband, Martin Spritzer, became the bakery’s second generation of family caretakers.
1969–1997
Mike and Irene Spritzer
Julia and Martin’s son Mike and his wife Irene carried the tradition forward. After Mike’s death in 1990, Irene continued operating the bakery with help from the family until its 1997 sale.
1997–2007
The Piraro and Pasteur Years
Ross and Kathy Piraro purchased the bakery in 1997. Following Ross’s death in 2005, their nephew Brian Pasteur carried the bakery forward until its sale in July 2007.
2007–2013
Brian and JoLynn Hite
The Hites became caretakers in July 2007. During their ownership, they acquired Arma Bakery, expanded the product line, and continued serving grocers, restaurants, and Southeast Kansas chicken houses.
2013–2024
Mike and Jayme Mjelde
For more than a decade, Mike and Jayme Mjelde maintained the bakery’s breadmaking tradition and kept the historic oven working through another chapter.
July 7, 2024–Present
The Robinson Family
The Robinson family became the bakery’s newest caretakers on July 7, 2024, committed to honoring those who came before while preserving THFB’s bread, history, and stories for future generations.
Keeping history within reach
A story shared with new generations.
That commitment reaches beyond the bakery. The bakery exhibit at Frontenac’s Heritage Hall, along with historical research, educational projects, children’s books, original music, and community events, helps share this history with new generations.
Explore Heritage HallOur guiding belief
Every Loaf Tells a Story.
Every loaf reflects the dedication of the bakers who came before us, the families who have gathered around the table, and the community that has supported THFB for more than 120 years.
As long as the historic oven continues to bake, we’ll do our part to ensure those stories are never forgotten.