Van de Kamp's is Back!

[@TheProhetess]

Love Van de Kamps Bakery goods since childhood (I'm 70) the heir to the Vons/ Van de Kamps, Fred, was a personal friend of my eldest brother and our family ❤😊

[@californiography]

Wow! That’s awesome!

[@loveydovey854]

Awesome... can't wait...❤

[@californiography]

Yes!! 🙌🏽

[@ryanodagawa]

This is amazing! My uncle in the 1930’s was a prominent Japanese American owner of Three Star Produce. He sold produce, and next door was Van De Kamp Bakery! (Back then, each department was owned separately…although he was starting some of the first supermarkets in LA)He apparently knew the Van De Kamps well, until he was put into the Japanese internment camps in 1941 after Pearl Harbor. He never recovered the stores after that. He probably would have continued side by side with the Van De Kamps, but that’s not how things turned out. I’m going to visit their stand one of these days!

[@californiography]

Thank you so much for sharing the story of your uncle and I'm so deeply sorry for the injustice your family suffered after Pearl Harbor. I did some quick research and found some photographs of Three Star Produce, here's the link in case you've never seen them; not sure why the search included the picture of Michael Landon tessa2.lapl.org/digital/collection/photos/search/searchterm/three%20star%20produce When you get a chance to visit the stand, make sure to share your uncle's story, I know Kathryn and her dad would love to hear it. Thank you for watching and commenting, I really appreciate you.

[@ryanodagawa]

@@californiography Yes, thank you! I’ve seen these! If you notice, the angle to the right, you can see Van de Kamp on the wall in the background! I will definitely look for Katheryn. I’m planning to go mid November, since I have to go to Tustin that day too.

[@californiography]

@@ryanodagawa I did see the Van de Kamp’s sign! Do you know where his store was located? The pics kinda look like the Grand Central Market, but I don’t think that’s where these were taken.

[@ryanodagawa]

@@californiography On the first picture, on the outside sign, it says Arapahoe. That sounds right, because I’ve seen that name before. I believe Arapahoe is the street name. I’m pretty sure there was one by the old Disney studio, I think in Burbank, and that lines up with the VDK location there. And also the Glassell Park/Eagle Rock location. But there were several more.

[@californiography]

@@ryanodagawa I saw that Araphoe is a street in Highland Park, so your Uncle had locations all over L.A., such cool history, you got me doing searches in the newspaper database now. I've found a few ads from the 1930s!

[@RugbyFootballer]

I hope she has a lot of success being back the Van De Kamp brand they had such wonderful treats

[@californiography]

I hope so too! Kathryn is an amazing person and deserves great success

[@lloyddesimone5615]

We wish you success with your business endeavor. I grew up loving Van de Kamp Bakery.

[@californiography]

Yes!! Van de Kamp’s is the best!

[@stuckeystop]

I love this story! I’m resurrecting my grandfather’s snack and candy brand and am traveling a similar journey. Rooting for Van De Kamps!!

[@californiography]

You’re amazing, thank you for sharing your story! I’d never heard of Stuckey’s, but now I need to get my hands on a Stuckey’s pecan log roll somehow. Wishing you all the success you deserve, way to keep your grandfather’s legacy alive!

[@aerii_san]

Omg i remember eating their coconut cake 💙 wish it was still in stores 😭😭😭

[@californiography]

I miss their chocolate cake!! Hopefully one day she opens up a commercial bakery and is able to make cakes again!

[@Tri2bgd24]

​@@californiographySame here! In fact, that's why I came to this channel, hoping I would find that those cakes were still available. The chocolate walnut buttercream frosting was out of this world. I just finished eating a slice of chocolate cake from a nearby grocer. It looked better than it tasted. The frosting had no flavor. I was thinking about Van de Kamps chocolate cake. Probably almost 50 years since I've tasted it, but I still remember the taste. Nothing beats it. My grandfather used to buy the half- cakes at the supermarket. My aunt used to work as a hostess at a Van de Kamps restaurant. I remember the blue dress and white bonnet.

[@californiography]

@@Tri2bgd24 The issue with the cakes is that the recipes that she has are for mass-production and some of the ingredients that went into the frosting aren’t available from the vendors in small quantities; they only deal in industrial size orders. Hopefully one day the business is big again to start making the cakes!

[@veganconservative1109]

Oh wow. I vaguely recall the name. I can no longer eat baked goods, but glad to see businesses return.

[@californiography]

Yes! It really is awesome to see the family bakery resurrected.

[@MistyRoseRocks]

I loved the holiday decorated sugar cookies that would just melt in your mouth. I believe the shapes were hearts, shamrocks, bunnies (can't remember the Christmas time shape). They would have sprinkles on top, too. Yum!!

[@californiography]

Those sound amazing!