Golden Sheaf Bakery
historic place
The Golden Sheaf Bakery, located on Addison Street in Berkeley, California, is a significant historic place in Alameda County. The original Golden Sheaf Bakery was founded in 1877 by English immigrant John G. Wright, operating as Berkeley's first wholesale and retail bakery from a Shattuck Avenue location. The Addison Street building, which stands today, was constructed in 1905. It was designed by architect Clinton Day. This two-story brick structure features Tuscan pilasters and terra cotta ornamentation. It served as an annex for the growing bakery, housing its fleet of horse-drawn delivery wagons. By 1905, Golden Sheaf was one of California's largest bakeries. During the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the bakery produced thousands of loaves of bread to feed displaced residents. The bakery business was sold to Wonder Bread in 1909, and operations at this site ceased. In 2000, developer Avi Nevo renovated and restored the building. It was then donated to the adjacent Berkeley Repertory Theater to serve as a children's education center. The Golden Sheaf Bakery has been recognized for its historical and architectural significance. It was designated a Berkeley Landmark on October 17, 1977. It was also listed on the National Register of Historic Places and as a California Historical Landmark on March 31, 1978. A historical marker was erected here in 2001 by the Berkeley Historical Plaque Project. This building represents a key period in Berkeley's early commercial development.