Schneider’s Bakery (Facebook)
6 S. State St. (map it!)
Westerville, OH 43081
(614) 882-6611
Open Mon, 6a-12p; Tues-Thurs, 1:30a-6p; Fri, 1a-6p; Sat, 1a-3p
Accepts cash only!
Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free? Y/N/N
Kid-friendly? Y
Visited: Thursday, July 18, 2013 at 6:15 am
I hope donut shops last forever. I hope they never go out of style, never change, never stop serving the same favorite donuts day in and day out. I know that’s a lot to ask of a small business, but it’s the simplicity and consistency of small donut shops, places like Schneider’s Bakery, that keep our culinary heritage alive. Yes, they’re mostly all the same, but each one has its quirks, its history, and its sense of being “owned” by the community. Donut shops are the true City Hall.
If you grew up in Westerville or went to Otterbein University like a number of my friends have, then Schneider’s is a no-brainer. It’s your neighborhood donut place, and you probably have years of memories associated with it. I’m still getting to know Schneider’s, but even after a handful of visits I can appreciate its place in the hearts and stomachs of its regulars. And judging by the constant opening and closing of the door every time I’ve visited, there are a lot of regulars.
For those who don’t know Schneider’s, it’s a small corner bakery in Uptown Westerville, which is actually the “downtown” focused along State Street. It’s a nice collection of coffee shops, retail, banks, restaurants, galleries, all with that quaint small-town feel. Regulars visit Schneider’s for boxes of donuts or simple snacks, like this one: a carton of milk and a Davy Crockett, a maple glazed cinnamon fry.
The exterior and interior are a far cry from fancy. It’s lit in plain fluorescent lights and decorated in creams and browns, and probably has been for decades. Every available space is taken by display cases filled with the familiar yellow trays that many bakeries use. Every time I’ve visited (which is pretty early in the morning), there’s a wide selection available, and honestly, I haven’t had anything bad.
My preference has been for the Davy Crocketts, the apple fritters, and the Nut Toppers, which are simple honey buns (a glazed cinnamon fry) covered in icing and nuts.
Schneider’s isn’t the type of place to do really funky things like maple bacon or hibiscus glazes, but they really don’t need to. They’ve got the basics covered very well.
Very well.
Very, very well.
They specialize in the simple comfort of all things glazed, rolled, powdered, and cream-filled. Even in the heat of summer, each bite tastes like a little bit of autumn.
Rows upon glorious rows.
Of course, if you want to act like a grown-up, you can always buy loaves of bread or rolls for dinner.
But you really came for boxes like these: chocolate-glazed yeast donuts, Dave Crocketts, Nut Toppers, longjohns with their thin strip of icing across the top.
Boxes and boxes of them.
A couple important notes about Schneider’s:
1. They are cash only. The nearest ATM is a bank across the street, and it’s difficult to access. Come with some green.
2. For the dedicated night owls: Schneider’s actually opens at 1 or 1:30 a.m. (depending on the day). As a father to two boys, I have not been able to visit when the donuts are truly warm and fresh. One of ladies behind the counter said it’s typical to find, especially when Otterbein is in session, a constant line of students out the door between 1-3 a.m.
3. At $6.75, an assorted dozen is pretty cheap. Not that donuts usually break the bank, but at most places you can expect to pay anywhere from $8-12 for an assorted dozen – something that includes bigger specialties like apple fritters or longjohns.
