Baker Bros History
The legend…
Long before there was a Baker Bros Restaurant, there was a Baker family. Born and bred in the great Midwest, brothers Tom and Ken Baker were raised to appreciate the value of an honest days work and a good meal in return. And in the Baker home, hearty, honest foods were always served in generous portions and made true to original family recipes handed down through the generations.
Today, those same Baker Brothers bring the authentic taste of the heartland to your neighborhood. As you'd expect, they insist on serving quality breads, the freshest produce and only premium quality meats and cheeses. As their guest, you'll find a variety that satisfies both appetite and curiosity.
Visit us often. Enjoy yourself always.
And with that founding philosophy of great value and hearty honest foods, Tom Dahl and Ken Reimer (a.k.a. the Baker Bros) set about establishing a concept and a brand that continues to grow today. Tom and Ken knew that in order to be successful in this industry, there were four key criteria that must first be established. Choose the right segment. Design a unique, flavorful menu. Establish a warm, comfortable and inviting décor and design an environment that created loyal guests by providing great service and delivering incredible value at every level.
The segment. Fast-casual. But fast-casual for a reason. Fast-casual is the fastest growing segment in the restaurant industry today. Conscious of consumer trends demanding better quality foods, more healthful menu options and better service, Ken and Tom set about designing a concept and a company to take advantage of these trends. They knew that whatever they created, they needed to create something special, something with long-term value, something that consumers craved, over and over again.
The menu. Not content to create “just another sandwich” restaurant, Tom and Ken began working on a menu that differentiated Baker Bros from the competition. 4 specialty ciabatta breads – eggspun, sourdough, whole wheat and light rye – bring rich, complex flavors to our mouthwatering specialty sandwiches. The highest quality produce, prepared fresh daily, is used to create our award-winning specialty salads. Incredible, gourmet pizzas, soups and giant stuffed baked potatoes round out the selections for a menu that provides enough variety and flavor to delight the whole group.
The ambiance. Each Baker Bros showcases a proprietary mural created especially for Baker Bros by one of today’s finest artists. Boasting warm colors, dark woods, fabric covered booths and Maplewood tables and chairs, Baker Bros is warm, inviting and upscale. A place where family, friends and co-workers alike can mingle and feel comfortable enjoying a quick lunch or even lingering for a business meeting. A place where you’ll find a mixture of all walks of life, blue collar, white collar, nurses, doctors, students and families.
Value. By insisting on serving healthy portions at reasonable prices with friendly, efficient service, Tom and Ken created a restaurant that sets itself apart from the crowd. Every menu item is made fresh to order, takes just minutes to prepare and is easily customized to accommodate our guests’ desires.
Highlights in History
December 28, 1998 Company is incorporated in Dallas, TX
December 1999 First restaurant opens in Plano, TX
February 2000 Second location opens in Dallas, TX
April 2000 Third location opens in Irving, TX
December 2000 Fourth location opens in Southlake, TX
April 2004 Named Best Big Salads in Dallas by the Dallas Observer
January 2005 Franchise efforts begin
August 2005 First franchised location outside of Dallas opens in Texarkana, TX
August 2006 Named Best Deli in Ft. Worth by Ft. Worth magazine
2007 Franchised locations open in Amarillo & Lubbock, TX, Rogers, AR & Lexington, SC
2007 Baker Bros mentioned for the first time in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Annual Franchise 500
2007 Baker Bros American Deli named to Top 50 of Fast Casual Magazine’s Top 100 Movers and Shakers