July 1955 – June 1960
LOCATION
Main Street USA – The Bakery had one of the best locations on Main Street, just to the left of the grand Penny Arcade entrance. Park visitors would find the Puffin Bakery on the west side, just before the intersection with the small cross street.
EXPERIENCE
Details:
- Service Type – quick service
- Seating – limited indoor seating
- Entertainment – none
The Puffin Bake Shop was just one of several different Main Street USA bakeries on Opening Day in 1955. At the time, virtually none of the shops sold standard Disney merchandise like we see today. Instead, each really operated as a unique shop, most with non-Disney items. Puffin sold a large selection of pastries and snacks, but none of its pastries were Disney themed (almost unheard of now!). Leisurely snackers could enjoy a seat at the table next to the window, while busier guests grabbed a pastry on the way to the castle.
CLOSURE
Disneyland fans complain a lot about rapid turnover of attractions and shops, but today’s pace is nothing compared to the 50s. Attractions and restaurants closed, changed, or moved constantly, sometimes without any prior announcement. With multiple bakeries on Main Street, it didn’t take long for the eateries to start closing in favor of fresh dining options. The Puffin Bake Shop faced its demise in 1960, to make way for a sponsored Juice Bar: the Sunkist Citrus House.
TRIVIA
On Opening Day, a photographer hopped up on the Main Street rooftops for photos before the crowds rushed in. This dream angle perfectly overlooked the Puffin Bake Shop! (see the photo above)
Puffins bake shop was my greatgrandfathers. I have been told my grandfather and grandmother meet at that spot. And my family started at the foot steps of the mouse. Lol. Mean of my aunts and uncles worked there and all my memories are in that park. and times sitting around a table talking about the bakery. Thank you all for keeping it alive.
My mother was hired while in high school and worked at the Puffin Bake Shop for a couple of years, and also worked at other spots around the park (Space Bar; popcorn cart outside the circus tent & hot dog cart at main train depot). She had lifelong friends (twin brothers) that worked on the rafts for Tom Sawyer Island during during her time there. She is 80 now, but has great stories about those days at the park.
That’s so cool!
I love your knowledge of early Disneyland history. You write about these subjects as if you had been there!
Thank you so much, John! That’s so kind of you. I absolutely love Disneyland history; if I had a time machine I’d definitely visit in the 50s and 60s 🙂
My mother worked at puffins when it opened in ’55. We moved to Oregon in 1959. My mother, Leona Hurd is still alive at age 93 and doing pretty good.