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Friday, May 6, 2011

Nolde Brothers Bakery - 1975

The Nolde Bros. Bakery in Church Hill was founded by John Henry Nolde in 1892. The building pictured below was completed in 1926. By 1950, the company's three plants in Richmond, Petersburg and Norfolk produced 800,000 pounds of bread a week. This location closed in 1977, and Goodwill later occupied part of the space. I remember shopping at their thrift store in the 90s. The building was renovated and reopened as the Nolde Condos in 2006. Love the cars, and especially the sign!


Photo courtesy of VCU Libraries
Posted by Vintage Richmond at 8:10 AM
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27 comments:

  1. TonyaSeptember 18, 2012 at 4:41 PM

    I went to Bellevue back then and I sure do miss the smell of that bakery even now!

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  2. AnonymousDecember 12, 2013 at 4:58 AM

    I lived directly across the street from this pic in 86'. I believe a Nations Bank and Goodwill were there then. I was 9 & memory kinda fuzzy now.

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  3. Vintage RichmondDecember 13, 2013 at 3:08 PM

    In '92 the Goodwill was still there, I think the Nation's Bank too...

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  4. twtoombsSeptember 23, 2014 at 7:48 PM

    Still miss Nolde Bread. The aroma of fresh baked bread from the Nolde Bakery was second only to C. F. Sauer and the spices. I remember the Goodyear Blimp dropping small loaves of Nolde's bread at the Tobacco Parade.

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  5. passitonMarch 5, 2015 at 5:07 PM

    My Great Grandparents worked there in the 20s. I wish I could get some of the employment records . History of some kind.

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    1. UnknownMay 22, 2016 at 11:25 AM

      My dad worked for them from 1941 till 1977 when they closed. He will be 93 this year and we talk about the bakery alot.

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    2. UnknownNovember 4, 2016 at 10:54 AM

      Was your father Archie?

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    3. AnonymousNovember 6, 2016 at 7:06 AM

      Yes he is and he is doing well.

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    4. UnknownDecember 2, 2019 at 11:29 AM

      I remember my Dad speaking of Archie........

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  6. AnonymousMay 28, 2015 at 9:53 AM

    I lived about 3 block away from the bakery in Petersburg and it did give off a great smell. They made a good product.

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  7. UnknownMay 28, 2016 at 9:19 PM

    My grandfather worked for Nolde's for 46 years (lived in Richmond, but served Fork Union Military Academy, Goochland, Cumberland, Fluvanna and the like. This was from 1926 to 1972. His name was Mallory Brizendine. I've been looking for memorabilia - and its so hard to find. I would love to find a tray - the yellow metal one. My email: bjbrizendine@gmail.com

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    1. UnknownMarch 26, 2019 at 1:01 PM

      My wife's father was Charles Berkley Jeffries. His mother was Bessie Brizzendine. He was firt Cousin to Pinky and Mallory. I did not know your father but did know Pinky.My wife's father sold Noldies from before WW2 until late 50s. He served the Franklin area which is where he me Lucy Johnson who he married in 1944.

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    2. Belinda BrizendineSeptember 25, 2023 at 1:10 AM

      Gosh for some reason I'm just seeing your comment or maybe you posted it before I post mine and I am just now seeing it. That is amazing of the relationship that you posted. I appreciate that it seems like a lot of my grandfather's relatives came from Essex county Tappahannock way but after he was born the other seven siblings were born in Richmond. Do you live in the Richmond area?

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  8. UnknownFebruary 12, 2017 at 11:40 PM

    While stopped at a light in Colonial Heights, I got hit head on by a Nolde Bakery truck. The case against the driver was continued twice, and on the third court date, after we had moved to Atlanta, the charges were dismissed. I've often wondered if the continuances had anything to do with the merits of the case or if it was because the son of the driver was one of the two judges in Colonial Heights.

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  9. AnonymousMarch 5, 2017 at 8:00 AM

    My dad worked there from 1952 until they closed in 1977. At one time we lived at Broad and 31st St. and would walk to the bakery and see dad.

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  10. AnonymousJuly 31, 2017 at 5:36 PM

    My husband & I just celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary on July 22nd 2017 & had a piece of the wedding cake made by Nolde's in Richmond Va. I had saved the top layer the day of the wedding & put into the freezer. I was determined to have a piece of it on our 50th anniversary as General & Mrs Dwight D Eisenhower had on theirs. The texture was as smooth as I remembered & the icing melted in our mouth! The Nolde family really knew how to bake a wonderful cake as well as breads. We grew up & live in the Northern Neck of Va & were always glad to see the Nolde's bread truck arrive at our local grocery store. The smell of fresh baked bread was always good whenever we visited Richmond.

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    1. Tammie Miller JenningsSeptember 2, 2018 at 3:33 AM

      Do you by any chance have pictures from your wedding day of the cake? I'm related to the Nolde family and I'd appreciate pictures if possible.

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  11. Just curiousNovember 17, 2017 at 11:17 AM

    a recent article referred to "Noltes (vs.Noldes) industrial bakery on Meadowbridge Rd....is this the same bakery?

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  12. FairfaxcatDecember 17, 2017 at 9:26 PM

    “Nolde’s bread is the fresh one,” according to the jingle. Davis Bakery on the Southside was pretty good. I think Mom must have gone to the grocery store to order up our Nolde’s birthday cakes. I’m not sure how it worked. We just walked in to Davis Bakery on Hull Street. They baked the lightest, tastiest biscuits into which we slid slices of Virginia Ham. Perfection.

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  13. CarolineDecember 22, 2018 at 7:32 PM

    When I was a young child in the 1940's, I remember a bread truck would come up our west end street in Richmond, and Mom would sometimes treat us to a box of "Bridge Cookies". Those were the best tasting cookies in the world and they were shaped like hearts, diamonds, clubs and spades. Was that a Nolde's truck? If it was, is there still a recipe for those cookies still around? You can reply to my email: dreamsgon39@hotmail.com

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  14. UnknownJune 22, 2019 at 9:39 PM

    Folks, I have several of the same memories as you! Just today, I was reminded of those sights and aromas when I purchased a 1920s Noldes delivery crate at an antique auction. If anyone should know its' monetary value, please let me know. For now, though, the nostalgia is enough for me!

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  15. UnknownDecember 2, 2019 at 11:28 AM

    My Dad, Bob Culley, worked there from the end of WWII until their closing in '77ish. Most of his career there was as a production foreman.

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  16. UnknownDecember 28, 2019 at 12:10 PM

    A friend and I today were remembering the delicious Zombie Cake Nolde made. We would love to have the recipe if it is available and not expensive. Nostalgia is about to get me....I'm 76 and remember it as my favorite cake of all time....homemade or bought, including my wedding cake!

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  17. AnonymousMay 12, 2021 at 1:13 PM

    What year did a man fall into a bread machine and died?

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  18. UnknownMay 28, 2021 at 11:19 PM

    I never lived in Richmond, I was from Fredericksburg. I heard about Noldes from theSailor Bob Show. When my family and I came to the city, I think we may have bought some Nole products. Loved them!

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  19. AnonymousDecember 7, 2023 at 5:49 PM

    We purchased Noldes bread for ten cents a loaf during ww2 in rural Southampton County Virginia. A blue wax paper wrapping used.

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  20. AnonymousAugust 7, 2024 at 7:50 PM

    Does anyone know who owns the old Nolde Bakery stables. I ran EMS out of there in the early-mid 80s.

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