By Lilly Templar
Nestled in the heart of Los Angeles lies a cherished landmark that once offered Angelenos a glimpse into Dutch culture and culinary traditions from the Netherlands underscored by the smell of freshly baked bread—the Van de Kamp's Holland Dutch Bakery headquarters. Built in 1931 in Glassell Park on Fletcher Drive and San Fernando Road, it is a stunning example of Dutch Renaissance Revival architecture with a brick façade, white-trimmed windows, and gabled roofs resembling a Dutch farmhouse. Over the years it quickly became an integral part of the Los Angeles culture and charm.
The origins trace back to the early 20th century when Milwaukee transplant, Theodore J. Van de Kamp and his sisters, Marian and Henrietta along with her husband Lawrence L. Frank, established an iconic symbol of quality baked goods with Dutch heritage here in Los Angeles. Theodore’s grandparents emigrated from the Netherlands in the 19th Century and the Dutch entrepreneurial spirit was brought to Los Angeles. However, the journey of “Van de Kamp's Holland Dutch Bakery” began much earlier back in 1915 when Theodore and his brother-in-law Lawrence, opened their first of several potato chip shops in downtown Los Angeles. A small outpost on Spring and 2nd Streets had customers lining up on the sidewalk for the fried salty snacks. Their slogan, “Made Clean, Kept Clean, Sold Clean” was selected to reinforce Dutch cleanliness and values. Due to a potato shortage during World War One, the family began producing baked goods such as coffee cakes and apple pies. They then outgrew the chip shops and expanded their baked goods and coffee shop chain.
One of the earliest locations of the new “Van de Kamp Holland Dutch Bakery” was at Western Avenue and Beverly Boulevard. This was the home of the first distinctive windmill which became an iconic symbol for the brand and tied the entire theme together. The bakery’s newspaper adverts boasted “18 types of fresh bread” from their blue and white Delft-themed delivery vans. The Van de Kamp's commitment to traditional Dutch baking techniques, modern machinery, and the use of high-quality ingredients kept locals returning. The distinctive windmills populated Los Angeles and beyond eventually launching them into national expansions and fame. Eventually, they expanded into a thriving empire of over 300 locations at the height of their success. During the 1940’s the family also ventured into the frozen fish industry, launching a line of frozen seafood under the Van de Kamp's label. As time went on the fate of the Van de Kamp's empire and headquarters faced uncertainty after the passing of Theodore Van de Kamp in the mid ‘50s and Lawrence Frank left the business soon after. Ownership changes and economic challenges led to the closure of the bakery headquarters, marking the end of an era for the original Van de Kamp's establishments in Los Angeles.
The once-thriving industrial plant and the headquarter’s fate was at great risk since 1990. It remained dormant for many years. Demolition concerns and the loss of a significant cultural heritage site caused the Los Angeles Conservancy, preservationists, and community advocates to work for decades to save the historic headquarters. Their heroic efforts resulted in restoration projects that revitalized and restored the cherished landmark’s facade. It was designated as a historic-cultural monument and the facade now serves as a campus of Los Angeles City College entrance. It is now known as the Van de Kamp Innovation Center and a historic preservation victory. The last remaining vestiges of a Van de Kamp restaurant is now a Denny’s in Arcadia, however, the windmill was preserved and is towering proudly on the rooftop. These are our reminders of the importance of cherishing landmarks that hold the memories and stories of a community. In a city known for its quickly changing landscape, the Van de Kamp's Bakery headquarters remains a steadfast landmark of Dutch heritage, a living tribute to the past, present, and future of Los Angeles' diverse cultural mosaic honoring its past while embracing the present.