My parents Don and Norma Vande Walle purchased Mehlberg's Bakery in
Shawano, Wisconsin in 1974. While working at the bakery during high
school and College, I realized that I would like to make a career in the
baking business.
After graduating from college I married my high school sweet heart,
Mary, and headed off to the American Institute of Baking, in Manhattan,
Kansas. After Graduating, we joined my parents at Mehlberg's Bakery.
In 1985, three of my brothers and my parents were talking of opening a
candy store in Appleton, Wisconsin. They thought bakery and ice cream
would be a good fit, so we joined up with them. We opened Vande Walle's
Candies in 1987.
Mary and I always wanted to have our own bakery and we didn't seem to
be getting younger. So in 2001, we opened Uncle Mike's Bake Shoppe in
DePere, Wisconsin.
The customers flocked to the new shop and after 3 years space was tight
so we opened another location in Suamico, Wisconsin in 2004. As the
need arises, we hope to add more stores in the Green Bay area.