April 1990 – January 2012
LOCATION
Main Street USA – The Blue Ribbon Bakery stood at the center intersection of Main Street, on the western side. Today, this space is the check-in area and indoor dining room of the Carnation Café. In 1997, the shop moved down the street, to Jolly Holiday‘s current location.
EXPERIENCE
Details:
- Service Type – quick service
- Seating – none
- Entertainment – none
The Blue Ribbon Bakery was Main Street USA’s charming neighborhood sweet shop. Designed with polished brass, exposed brick, and elaborate dark wood detailing, the interior of the Bakery was uniquely beautiful and quite distinct from its Victorian neighbors. Guests could enjoy a variety of pastries, coffees, and juices, and the Blue Ribbon Bakery’s central location made it the perfect stop for a quick pick-me-up while exploring Main Street.
CLOSURE
Main Street USA experienced its own miniature “reimagining” in 2012, with a few shops and restaurants closing, construction of the neighboring Fantasy Faire, and the grand opening of one of its largest restaurants, the Jolly Holiday Bakery Café. With the addition of a much larger and more popular bakery at the end of the street, Main Street no longer needed the Blue Ribbon. The eatery closed in 2012, allowing the Carnation Café to add an indoor dining room.
TRIVIA
The Blue Ribbon Bakery originally opened a few doors down, next to the Penny Arcade (replacing the Sunkist Citrus House). When the Carnation Ice Cream Parlor closed in 1997, the Bakery moved in, settling into its current corner location. The Blue Ribbon Bakery’s old space ironically became a new ice cream parlor: Gibson Girl.
The Bakery has its own official backstory explaining how it got its name: In the late 1800s, a talented baker and his wife left their small European town to pursue a new life in America. In no time, his tasty treats became well known throughout the town, and his friends convinced him to enter the 1901 State Fair. He was awarded first prize—a blue ribbon—in three of the four categories (the judge’s mother-in-law won first place in the fourth category). He also won enough prize money to realize his lifelong dream—his own bakery: The Blue Ribbon Bakery.
Started with Carnation in July of 1955 before Disneyland opened the 18th. Was hired to be a Soda Jerk, but they needed a Fry Cook so that was my place until I quit to become a Teller at Bank of America in March of 1956. I quit BofA in 1957 and went back to Carnation in Disneyland for the summer and then went back to school that fall.
It was a joy to work in Disneyland, even the time I and few guys got caught by Security for doing something that seemed fun at the time.
Your post says the bakery was open from April 1990 to January 2012. Another post says the Carnation Ice Cream Parlor in the same building was in operation there until January 1977, when the Carnation Cafe took over in March 1997. Is the April 1990 date correct, or a typo? Just trying to get the timelines straight. Thanks, your posts are very helpful and informative.
Fair questions, John! The bakery was next to Carnation until 1997, when it moved down the street to where Jolly Holiday is now. That location closed in 2012. I hope that helps clarify. I will also review the posts to see if I can clarify the language 🙂