Dottie Anderson proceeds to gather her ingredients for another day’s work. The mixing, stirring, cutting and baking begins. The smell of fresh pastries, donuts, cookies and cakes consumes the bakery. Allen MacNeil turns on the lights and pulls the shades. Anderson’s Bakery is open for business.
“I bought donuts and coffee from her mother (Anderson) and father for years,” said MacNeil. “When she decides to get out of the business, no will one be able to take her place. I love her to death.” MacNeil isn’t even an employee at Anderson’s, but one of their loyal customers.
Anderson’s Bakery, located at 61 Main Street in Plymouth, has become a landmark in Plymouth and New Hampshire. Halen and Amanfred Anderson opened the first Anderson’s Bakery in Waltham, M.A. in the early 1940’s. In 1958, they opened another bakery in Plymouth and sold it to their oldest son, Bill. In 1964, the bakery was sold to Tom, the Anderson’s second oldest son, Dottie’s husband. Due to health reasons, Mr. Anderson was forced to take a leave of absence, but in 1985, Mrs. Anderson began running the bakery herself, and still runs the same business today.
“Some have called me the dinosaur in the industry,” said Anderson.
Anderson’s Bakery opens everyday at 4 A.M. for those early morning travelers or late-night students at Plymouth State University. Anderson’s has distinct advantage over competition. While Irving is open 24-hours a day and Dunkin Donuts on the Tenney Mountain Highway opens at 5 A.M., Anderson’s is used to seeing early morning customers.
In 1954, Anderson’s actually didn’t even sell coffee. In fact back then, Anderson’s didn’t even open until 5 A.M.
“It evolved because I had to be here at 3 A.M., anyway,” said Anderson.
At Anderson’s Bakery, customers are greeted with a certain kind of loyalty that isn’t found at other places. Anderson commented that some of her most loyal customers make their own coffee and leave the money on the counter. When she’s really busy, some of her customers will wait on other customers for her.
MacNeil, who is usually Anderson’s first customer of the morning, comes in at approximately 3:30 A.M. every morning. While Anderson is in the kitchen baking, MacNeil helps around the bakery putting newspapers in the rack, pulling up the shades and turning the lights on.
“When she closes for a holiday, I am beside myself,” said MacNeil. “I don’t know where to get my coffee, donuts and paper.”
Anderson generally arrives at the bakery at approximately quarter of three in the morning and begins her morning rituals.
After preparing the needed ingredients, she gets the dough ready for bagels and pastries in the proof box. With added moisture, the proof box helps the dough rise. After the dough has risen to perfection, the pastries are frosted with a topping and put into the oven for baking.
At 4 A.M., Cyndi Miller, Anderson’s storefront manager, comes in for another day of work. Miller generally runs the register and serves customers and prepares the display case with the day’s new treats.
Items from the day before are sold at half-price, usually a big seller for those who are on the run or poor college students. Some are donated to the Senior Center while bread that is left over is donated to a local food pantry once a week.
“This is the friendliest place in Plymouth for sure,” said Miller. “The customers are nice and it’s a fun place to work.”
Tray by tray, donuts, bagels and pastries are brought out to the glass display case for customers to purchase on their drive or walk.
Just before store opening, Brooke Salom, one of the head bakers, starts her day. Salom helps Anderson with preparing donuts and other treats.
Promptly at 4 A.M., the door to Anderson’s Bakery chimes throughout the store, indicating that a customer is inside. A “good morning” and conversation is started while coffee and food is prepared for the customer. Each customer enters and leaves Anderson’s Bakery with a smile on their face and leaves with that same enthusiastic feeling.
“I love it,” said Anderson. “I love what I do because it’s instant gratification. If it sells, it’s a success. It’s a lot of hard work, but it’s very gratifying.”
Whether coming in for a good conversation or a little laugh in the morning, Anderson’s Bakery is the place to be. Great service, amazing food and just a friendly atmosphere have put Anderson’s Bakery on the map to stay.