bake - May/June 2024 - 13

Three Brother Bakery
On May 18, Three Brothers Bakery celebrated 75 years
in the Houston community with a Children's Business
Fair. Presentations/proclamations and ribbon cutting
took place the morning of May 18, along with a fair that
featured awards given to the children.
Fair vendors were ages 6 to 14. Each developed a
brand, created a product or service, built a marketing
strategy, and opened their store.
" We thought about how to give back to the community
for their support of Three Brothers Bakery over 75 years
and decided the Children's Business Fair is a unique way
to give back and hopefully help these budding entrepreneurs
to become, who knows, the next Dell Computer, "
said Bobby Jucker, fifth generation baker.
Awards and prize money were presented. The biggest
prize went to the vendor with the highest sales.
" We are totally blessed
with the grace of other
people around us. "
Kirk Rossberg, owner of Torrance Bakery
In addition to Three Brothers Bakery serving as the
major sponsor of the fair, additional sponsors were the
Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, The Next
Great Adventure, BrandGear Promotional Products and
parking sponsor The Barvin Group, which graciously
donated their property for parking.
Additionally, this year marks the start of the family's
200th year of baking history.
" We just wanted to have some fun while we say thank
you for letting us be a part of your sweet memories for
75 years, " Jucker said. " This celebration is about our
wonderful community, which is why we are still here. "
Torrance Bakery
Kirk Rossberg has vivid memories of the early and challenging
years. " I did everything wrong - right off the
bat, " he recalls with a smile.
He was 27 at the time, and ran the business alongside
his mother.
Just two weeks after the bakery opened, and two
weeks prior to Thanksgiving in 1984, their reel oven - the
only one they had - stopped working.
Their local Hobart rep informed Kirk that the oven was
probably 65 years old. Kirk had little money to spare
because he had sunk everything into the opening. Then
came magic words from the Hobart rep.
" He says, 'pay me when you can,' " Rossberg recalls.
" It would have been a catastrophe not to have had that
oven. It is a testament to the grace of others. I still have
that oven, which is a workhorse for our bakery. It's a
constant reminder that nobody does it alone. "
Kirk's mom knew that lesson well. A child of the Great
Depression, June McComb Rossberg grew up in a onebedroom
flat above her mother's print shop. Despite
the tight quarters, her parents always sheltered and fed
others, often taking in strangers whose own families had
turned them out. June continued that legacy of quiet
and humble acts of kindness throughout her entire life.
June excelled at Chicago's Immaculata High School,
including winning the lead role of Florence Nightingale in
bakemag.com | MAY-JUN 2024 > 13
Kirk Rossberg (right)
credits his late mother,
June, for understanding
the importance of genuine
customer service.
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