Photograph courtesy of the Missouri Historical Society’s Photographs and Prints Collection
Karl Knodel founded Knodel’s Bakery in 1901 after he arrived in St. Louis from Germany as a young man. This photo was taken at the bakery’s 14th and Biddle location. According to Karl Knodel’s granddaughter, Marlene Knodel Inglish, over the next 30 years the bakery moved to locations on Salisbury, to Tamm (the same location currently home to Sugaree Baking Co.), then on to Walnut Park and finally to Knodel’s current home at 6621 W. Florissant. Inglish’s daughter, Cynthia Inglish Winders, is current owner of the now-named Knodel’s Bakery and Catering Inc. One of the recipes surviving the more than 100-year life span of the bakery is the strawberry cream cake. Early on, the dessert consisted of cake with strawberries and whipped cream on top, much like what is commonly known today as strawberry shortcake, says Inglish. The modern-day version of the dish adds cream inside the cake.
