Truth be told, Merzbacher’s of Germantown wasn’t always called “Merzbacher’s” and it wasn’t always in Germantown. Huh?

In late 2012, our founder Pete Merzbacher started baking, packing, and delivering bread to friends and neighbors—all via bicycle and public transit. At the time, Pete had no business ambitions, just an unshakeable instinct to share food and build community. 

And with that simple purpose, he launched “Philly Bread.” For $25/month, Philly Bread supporters could pick up fresh bread at select addresses throughout the city.

→ By April 2013, Pete had already outgrown his home kitchen and began renting a West Philly pizzeria (Aladdin on 48th and Spruce, now defunct) during their off-peak hours. After a couple of months, the quiet pizzeria effectively became a busy bakery and Pete realized his project might be a business. 

→ September 2013: Compelled by a love for adventure and a strong sense of purpose, Pete moved the business to an empty Tunisian bakery in the heart of the Olney neighborhood (4905 N 5th St.).

→ From 2013 to 2018, Philly Bread transitioned from a one-man show to a team-oriented wholesale bread bakery. First, there were some packers, then some drivers, and eventually assistant bakers, overnight cleaners, and business administrators. 

→ After hand-shaping a few million muffins and hauling sacks of flour up and down two flights of steps, Pete decided to find the team a new spot. On January 24, 2018, he signed a lease for a bigger facility with upgraded equipment in Germantown. 

→ Philly Bread moved into the new Germantown location on March 1, 2019. In this historic setting, the team felt a true sense of community—and decided it was time for a name change.

→ September 2020: The rebranded Merzbacher’s of Germantown was born, featuring all the same products with a re-emphasis on Pete’s original mission: bringing people together by breaking bread.