Over 50 years of Baking
Home of the Poulsbo bread since 1974!
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The Rich History of Sluys Poulsbo Bakery
Our story begins with a different name, in the early 1900’s, as Star Bakery. The Star Bakery originally began primarily as a wholesale baking distribution center.
It then changed to The Poulsbo Bakery, and delivered breads all over the Kitsap Peninsula and Mason County. As the years progressed, the bakery became more of a retail shop. Poulsbo grew in size, and the need for a retail bakery was evident. The Bauer’s, the original owners, valued high quality products and met the town’s need, leading the bakery to become Bauer’s Bake Shop. The mural in our retail store shows the growth in Poulsbo that was taken from many original photos.
In 1966 Marion & Loretta Sluys purchased Bauer’s Bake Shop, and renamed it Sluys Poulsbo Bakery. With hard work and dedication, Sluys Poulsbo Bakery has built a reputation for excellent quality and service. Sluys Poulsbo Bakery is now run by Daniel & Stephanie K. Sluys. Daniel is the son of Marion & Loretta and has been working in the bakery since he was 8 years old, once having to stand on a five-gallon can to reach the counter.
Many of our products are original recipes, including Poulsbo Bread, Brod, Sweet Black, Norwegian Black, Farmers, Jalapeno Cheese, and some are recipes from the Old World, such as Julekake, Stollen, Cardamom bread, Kransekake, and Fattigman.
In 1974, Marion Sluys developed a bread inspired by God’s Word:
“Take thou also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentils, and millet, and fitches or spelt, and put them in one vessel, and make thee bread thereof…” -Ezekiel 4:9
Mr. Sluys named the bread after Poulsbo, “Poulsbo Bread.” Unable to keep up with the demand, selling over 100 loaves a day through Sluys Poulsbo Bakery alone, Mr. Sluys negotiated with The Lucks Company in Seattle to make a mix for Poulsbo Bread.
Marion then sold the rights to The Lucks Company to make a bread mix for national and international markets, as long as they maintained the scripture verse ( Ezekiel 4:9 ) and the name, “Poulsbo Bread” on each bag. Since 1981, many major bread manufacturers, like Franz and Langendorf, used this mix to make Poulsbo Bread and have distributed the bread across the United States, Canada, Hawaii, and internationally into Japan. Millions of families around the World are enjoying this delicious wholesome bread.
Sluys Poulsbo Bakery continues to make Poulsbo Bread as originally created. Sluys’ is the only bakery that is allowed legally to manufacture Poulsbo bread from scratch. We do not use a mix.
The History of the Wooden Nickel
In 1933, Blaine, Washington issued round wooden coins when their bank failed.
These were the first issues of wooden money in the U.S. Several other places, mostly in the Pacific North-West, issued wooden money after that. Some followed the flat (rectangular pieces) format of Tenino and others used round pieces. The Century of Progress in Chicago in 1933 was the first place to use wooden money pieces as souvenirs. Several issues were made – all around. Some are the size of a silver dollar and others are about three inches in diameter.
In 1934 a new use for wooden nickels was found-a combination of advertising for civic celebrations and providing souvenirs of the celebration. Binghamton NY was one of the first places to embrace this concept. Wooden money continued to be used to enhance civic celebrations such as centennials through the mid-1930s and really started to be cranked out in 1938 when the J. R. Rogers Company of Fostoria, Ohio obtained a copyright on their design for the wooden money. While the Rogers Company had competition and the competition also issued wooden money, woods produced for Rogers continue to be the most readily found.
Sluys’ Poulsbo Bakery produced their own wooden nickel in 1970 and would hand these out to customers who bought their children’s shoes at Sluys’ Shoe Shop. Today the tradition is carried on with other local businesses like Liberty Bay Auto Center, who hand out our wooden nickels to their customers. You may, also, find these wooden nickels at local fundraisers and schools handed out by teachers to students who have completed milestones.
About Marion Sluys
Mr. Marion Sluys moved to Kitsap in 1966 after visiting Memorial Park for a family vacation, stopping at The Poulsbo Bakery, and falling in love.
With experience working in two bakeries previously, he saw an opportunity in moving his family to Poulsbo to take over The Poulsbo Bakery. He settled in quickly to his new community and invested in Poulsbo, seeking to spread the word and raise awareness of the waterfront town.
In the first summer of ownership, the bakery saw no changes. Marion and his eldest daughter Diane were running the bakery, while his wife Loretta and the other three children prepared to relocate. The second year brought the name change to Sluys’ Poulsbo Bakery, a growing menu, and marketing efforts.
In the early 70’s, Marion and Bruce Nilsen founded the Historic Downtown Poulsbo Association (HDPA), aimed at uniting downtown businesses to promote the City. This collaborative effort led to advertising campaigns on the ferries, radio broadcasts and events such as the Viking Fest. Beginning with a few businesses, the association is still running today with over 100 businesses in the Historic Downtown Poulsbo area.
Known for his innovative marketing strategies, Marion produced his own video advertisement using a classic slideshow projector and a narrated recording on a dictaphone.
The slideshow showcased a day trip from Seattle starting with boarding the ferry, with its beautiful views to driving along Fjord and coming around the bend and seeing the quaint boating town along the water called Poulsbo. It also showcased a collection of businesses in Poulsbo, views of Liberty Bay, and the people who bring it to life.
Marion’s vision for a unified storefront aesthetic laid the foundation for the charming ‘Little Norway’ we know today. He and Loretta owned the buildings from Sogno D’Vino to Bohenms, then barber shop down to Thor Hammer skipping Blue Heron & The Curious Child buildings. They, also, owned the buildings across the street from Verkstad Gallery around the corner to Woodfired Pizza. All but the building housing Sluys Poulsbo Bakery, Indigo Plum, Timeless Cut, Tizley’s EuroPub and Crimson have been sold.
In addition to his famous Poulsbo Bread, in 1978 he made a special donut for some Japanese businessmen who were visiting the area. They sought a healthier version of a donut to produce back in Japan, which resulted in a square donut using the Poulsbo Bread recipe. The donut had its own packaging with a picture of Mr. Sluys on the front, sporting a beard, per the request of Mr. Donut in Japan.
The owners of Mr. Donut from Japan sent over a film crew to create a video advertisement, featuring Marion as ‘Mr. Donut,’ strolling down Front Street, with his grandchildren by his side. There was also an advertisement in a Japanese magazine with a view of the First Lutheran Church field with sunflowers photoshopped in to look like a sunflower field.
As a pilot, Marion even flew bakery goods to destinations as far as Alaska, Oregon and Mexico. Though his dream of flying his plane across the Pacific Ocean remained unfilled he was able to travel all around the world.
Marion along with his wife Loretta and Gene and Lorraine Anderson started a school in Tanzania Africa teaching elementary-aged students and eventually expanding through high school. The school is still in operation today with many students having passed through the doors giving them great opportunities for their futures. One student boasted he was going to be the President of Tanzania one day, he is currently an attorney.
It’s difficult to list all of the work and care Marion Sluys had for Poulsbo, today we remember Marion Sluys fondly for his humor, work ethic, and problem-solving prowess, leaving an indelible mark on Poulsbo and its residents. In the bustling bakery he once led, now owned and operated by his eldest son, Daniel, and his wife, Stephanie, his spirit lives on, cherished by all who enter.
In addition to the Sluys Poulsbo Bakery, Marion and Loretta owned a shoe store Sluys Shoes, a gift store Sluys Gifts and The Five Swans store. The Wooden Nickel was handed out to parents who purchased their children’s shoes at his Shoe Shop.