Beckers Bakery

Introduction / Overview

Nestled in the heart of the picturesque South Bay community, Beckers Bakery & Deli stands as a genuine Manhattan Beach institution. Established in 1942 by Harry Becker, this beloved bakery is far more than just a place to grab a treat; it represents a deep and enduring connection to local history and family tradition. For over eight decades, across four generations of the Becker family, this establishment has been sweetening the lives of Southern California residents, making it one of the city's oldest and most cherished businesses.

Beckers Bakery & Deli is celebrated for its commitment to classic, old-school baking techniques and recipes that have been faithfully passed down through the years. The core of their reputation rests on their world-famous buttercream—a recipe that remains unchanged and is the foundation for their delectable cakes, cupcakes, and signature sugar cookies. In an ever-evolving coastal California landscape where businesses come and go, the bakery’s continued presence and authentic charm offer a comforting sense of nostalgia and stability. The 100-year-old building that houses the bakery has even been recognized as a historical landmark, adding another layer of significance for local patrons.

The bakery, now officially led by fourth-generation family member Kit Becker, is a vibrant mix of classic pastries and modern-day favorites, including a popular deli section. It has cultivated a loyal following, serving generations of families whose parents and grandparents purchased their own special occasion cakes and cookies right here. The tone is distinctly friendly and professional, with staff frequently described as “always the nicest” and “friendly and fast,” enhancing the overall welcoming and community-focused atmosphere that California users seek in a local spot. The success of Beckers is rooted in a fierce devotion to quality, tradition, and maintaining the easy charm that defines the classic beach town vibe.

Location and Accessibility

Beckers Bakery & Deli is conveniently situated at a central and highly accessible location for all South Bay residents and visitors. The address is 1025 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266, USA.

The placement on Manhattan Avenue puts the bakery directly in the bustling, desirable downtown area, perfectly located for a quick stop before a day at the beach, after shopping, or as a convenient morning detour. It is centrally positioned near the Manhattan Beach Pier and its surrounding attractions. This location offers the benefit of high visibility and proximity to other popular local establishments.

The building itself is easily recognizable and carries the unique appeal of its history, often featuring old newspaper clippings on the walls that showcase the business’s long tenure in the community. As with many popular downtown areas in coastal California, access can involve navigating local traffic, but its central location ensures it is well-known and easily reachable from major routes serving the South Bay, including Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach. The fact that the bakery has maintained this location since its inception in 1942 speaks to its intrinsic accessibility and enduring role as a local focal point. Customers who plan to visit are advised to come early, as the best selection of their famously delicious and appealing pastries can sell out quickly due to consistent local demand.

Services Offered

Beckers Bakery & Deli offers a wide and delicious array of services that extend beyond simple baked goods, catering to daily cravings and grand celebrations alike:

• Custom Celebration Cakes: They specialize in made-from-scratch cakes for all occasions (birthdays, weddings, events), expertly decorated with their signature, world-famous buttercream. Options include Round Cakes, Sheet Cakes, Smash Cakes, and Tier Cakes.
• Signature Cookies: A massive draw, featuring a sugar cookie recipe passed down for generations. Key items include the iconic Surfboard Cookie, Heart Cookies with pink frosting, Dinosaur Cookies, and seasonally decorated varieties like Boo Ghosts.
• Deli Service and Sandwiches: The location features a deli offering hearty counter-serve sandwiches, often made on house-baked breads. This includes specialties like the chicken salad avocado sandwich, utilizing bread like their specialized Squaw bread.
• Cupcakes and Pastries: A staple of the bakery, offering a selection of Regular, Mini, and Jumbo Buttercup Cupcakes. Other pastries include Cinnamon Rolls, Mini Apple Pies, large croissants, and highly praised apple fritters.
• Custom and Corporate Orders: Services include custom picture cookies for unique events and large bulk orders for local corporate or community events, showcasing their dedication to supporting local initiatives.
• Beverage Selection: The deli section offers a variety of coffee beverages, including espresso and draft coffee, which customers note are rich and delicious.

Features / Highlights

What makes Beckers Bakery & Deli a standout choice in the competitive Southern California food scene are the unique features and unwavering quality that have defined it for over 80 years:

• Four Generations of Family Ownership: Since 1942, the business has remained a Becker family affair. Now led by Kit Becker, this continuity ensures that traditional recipes and a personal touch remain central to the operation.
• The World-Famous Buttercream: Their signature recipe, passed down through the years, is the key ingredient that sets their cakes, cookies, and cupcakes apart and is the reason many loyal patrons return for decades.
• The Iconic Surfboard Cookie: A classic, hand-decorated sugar cookie shaped like a surfboard, capturing the quintessential beach town culture of Manhattan Beach and serving as a memorable local souvenir or treat.
• Historical Landmark Status: The 100-year-old building itself has been designated a historical landmark, providing a charming, old-school atmosphere that many locals appreciate for its authenticity and easy charm.
• Broad Customer Appeal: The bakery successfully caters to diverse needs, serving as a dessert spot, a sandwich deli, and a source for celebration cakes, all under one roof, with a general consensus that the pastries “taste as delicious as they look.”
• Community Nostalgia: Generations of Manhattan Beach kids have grown up on Becker’s treats, from their first birthday cake to buying cookies to share with classmates, cementing the bakery’s role as a treasured source of childhood memories and tradition.

Contact Information

For local California users looking to place an order, inquire about custom cakes, or simply stop by for a daily treat, here is the essential contact information for this historic location:

Address: 1025 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266, USA

Phone: (310) 372-3214

Operating Hours: Open Tuesday through Sunday. Note: The bakery is closed on Mondays (except for some holidays). It is recommended to check their website or call for current hours, as well as to visit early for the widest selection.

What is Worth Choosing Beckers Bakery?

Choosing Beckers Bakery & Deli is choosing history, quality, and a deeply ingrained local experience that is rare to find in modern Southern California. For a resident of the Golden State, Beckers is more than just a convenient stop; it is a cultural touchpoint and a reliable source of traditional culinary excellence.

The primary reason to choose Beckers is the assurance of quality rooted in decades of family dedication. While many bakeries may open and close, Beckers has thrived since 1942 by maintaining foundational recipes—most notably, the famed buttercream and sugar cookie formula. When you purchase a cake or a cupcake, you are not just buying a dessert; you are investing in a proven recipe that has delighted four generations of customers. As one happy customer noted, the experience is consistently top-tier, stating the staff are “always the nicest and their cupcakes are my personal favorite.” The fact that the building itself is a historical landmark adds a layer of character that major chain bakeries simply cannot replicate.

Furthermore, Beckers offers a remarkable breadth of service. Where some establishments might focus on one niche, Beckers excels in multiple: gourmet cakes, nostalgic cookies, and a high-quality deli service featuring specialty bread like their Squaw bread. This versatility makes it an ideal choice for practically any need, from a quick Large Chocolate Chip Cookie and coffee on the go to a meticulously decorated, custom-ordered anniversary cake. The presence of unique, locally themed items, such as the Surfboard Cookie, further strengthens its appeal to local users who value that authentic Manhattan Beach flair.

In a time of constant change and development in the South Bay, Beckers Bakery stands as one of the few places that preserves the original charm and familial warmth of the community. It’s a cherished gathering place where staff are known to be “friendly and fast” and the environment is “clean and well stocked.” For local users who prioritize supporting a family-run business that is dedicated to tradition, high-quality ingredients, and being a fixture in the community, Beckers Bakery & Deli remains the quintessential choice.

Beckers Bakery

1025 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266, USA