Schulze Baking Company Plant
historic place
The Schulze Baking Company Plant stands on Chicago's South Side, at 40 East Garfield Boulevard in Cook County. This historic factory building was completed in 1914, designed by architect John Ahlschlager. Paul Schulze founded the Schulze Baking Company in 1893. This plant became a highly modern and advanced bakery for its time, capable of producing up to 150,000 loaves of bread daily. The building is architecturally distinctive, featuring a five-story white terra cotta exterior with Sullivanesque ornamentation and over 700 windows. Its design contributed to its recognition. The plant was later home to Hostess Brands' Butternut Bread, operating until it closed in 2004. Due to its architectural and cultural significance, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 12, 1982. In 2024, Preservation Chicago listed the Schulze Baking Company Plant among the city's most at-risk buildings for demolition. It remains a notable landmark, reflecting a significant period in Chicago's industrial and architectural history.