Editor's Choice
Backermann's Bakery in Whiteville, Tennessee
Backermann's Bakery in Whiteville, TN is a Mennonite deli and grocery store where you can eat lunch as you stock up on homemade breads and desserts, fresh milk, and organic beef.
A charming spot to visit for lunch in rural Hardeman County Tennessee is Backermann's Bakery. This shop is part bakery, part deli, part grocery store.
The Yoder's run this Mennonite establishment with friendly charm. Mrs. Yoder told me that when her husband's family took over the bakery, they kept the original name of Backermann.
Baked Breads, Pastries, Cookies
Deli Sandwich on Fresh Bread
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Baked Goods
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Old Fashioned Good Eating
More About Backermann Bakery
The spelling is something of a mystery with some of the signs spelled with one n and others with two (Backerman and Backermann).
It is pronounced Bach-er-man, not Baker-man or even Back-er-man.
My mother, daughter, and I took a trip to Backermann's just to spend time together, grab lunch, and buy some whole foods. We had a wonderful time browsing the shelves and devouring our delicious sandwiches.
Backermann's Bakery Hours
Monday 9:00 - 2:00
Tuesday - Saturday 7:30 - 5:00
Mrs. Yoder Stocking Fresh Cookies
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Ordering Lunch at Backermann's Bakery
Deli Sign
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Ordering Sandwiches
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Liver Cheese Sandwich on Jalapeño Che...
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Turkey Sandwich on Rosemary Garlic Bread
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Drinks
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Crispy Snacks
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Getting Sandwiches at the Deli Counter
Sandwiches on Homemade Bread
Walk up to the deli counter and place your sandwich order. For convenience sake, the Yoders have printed up some small checklists where you indicate your choice of your bread, cheese, meat, and toppings.
Sandwiches are $4 and allow for a wide selections of breads, meats, and cheeses.
The breads are all homemade in the bakery.
- jalepeno cheddar
- sourdough
- honey wheat
- whole wheat
- rosemary garlic
Get the relish! It's wonderful. And be sure to ask for pickles. They are served on the side. If you don't like them, share them with someone who does.
Invisible Soup
Add a bowl of soup for a $6 combo. The day we visited, the soup was mysteriously called "Invisible Soup." When we asked about it, we were told that there was no soup that day because of some work being done to the restaurant. The Yoders have a great sense of humor!
Hopefully when you go to Backermann's, there will be some soups to try. I certainly plan to sample some on my next visit.
Instead of the soup, we were able to find some crunchy snacks to go along with our sandwiches -- sesame sticks and veggie chips.
Sandwiches and sandwhiches
Some signs had an interesting spelling -- sandwhiches. I found it charming, probably a kickback to the European roots of the Mennonite community that founded Backermann's Bakery.
Ammenities
There is a spacious area to sit and enjoy your lunch. Napkins are simple -- paper towels on a roll. Cold drinks are available too and include some interesting flavors like birch bark "beer" and sarsparila "beer." If you are going to eat at a Mennonite deli, you really should try an authentic Pennsylvania Dutch drink.
Other
Of course, the deli meats and cheeses can be ordered by the pound. I ate the most heavenly liver cheese and bought a pound to take home.
Have You Ever Eaten at a Mennonite Deli or Restaurant?
Grocery Items at Backermann's Bakery
After we enjoyed our lunch, we leisurely browsed the store, choosing food items we wanted to take home with us.
Backermann's does have shopping carts, but we just took all our loot back to our luncheon table and collected it there until our checkout.
Backermann's accepts credit cards, debit cards, and cash. They do have plastic bags to bag your purchases, but we brought insulated bags to protect our fresh milk against the 100+ degree weather of that June day.
We found the employees of Backermann's very friendly and eager to answer questions about products.
Some items are local and others are shipped in from other areas, namely Ohio and Pensylvannia. Read the labels carefully as there are varying types of foods, some being totally organic and others including such ingredients as MSG and artificial sweeteners. Generally, however, the foods are whole foods that are pure and healthy.
Food Items for Sale at Backermann's
- bulk spices
- cheeses (shipped from other states)
- fresh milk -- low heat pasturized but not homogenized so the cream floats to the top
- dry goods such as sugar, flour, beans, popcorn
- whole grains -- barley, hominy, millet, qinoa, wheat, oats
- organic beef which the Yoders raise
- dried fruits
- snacks such as veggie chips, toasted corn
- canned jams, jellies, relishes, pickles
- honey and molasses
Scenes from Backermann's Grocery Shelves
Cheeses
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Whole Grains
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Local Honey
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Locally Made Molasses
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Fresh Milk
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Organic Beef
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Mennonite Cookbooks
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Herald Press Only $23.99 | Good Books | Herald Pr |
How Important is the Label "Organic" to You?
Not very important. I think the organic label is probably overrated.
PeggyHazelwood
on 06/09/2011
if I can find organic at a good price, I'll consider it, but I don't usually buy organic.
nightbear
on 06/08/2011
I think it is a bit of a scam in certain situations. Sometimes you can find true organic and that is great. But some say they are organic but they came from an industrialized area. huh? Oh well, I try for as fresh as I can get, but I'll eat anything if it looks good.
Very important. I buy organic whenever available or affordable.
Meagan
on 07/04/2011
Eating organic is important to me. But I'll happily buy from a farmer who says its chemical-free even if not certified organic. And the organic label is just one factor - I'm not interested in processed and overpackaged food that is labelled organic.
ohcaroline
on 06/21/2011
I think it's of the utmost importance. I don't have any local place to get much now.
Dustytoes
on 06/11/2011
I try to buy organic when it's available, but I can see how large families could not afford it.
sheilamarie
on 06/10/2011
I prefer organic, though sometimes cannot afford it. I believe what we eat is important, though, and so try to choose wisely.
Wooden Furniture, Gazebos, and Chicken Houses
Besides the deli and grocery story, Backermann's also sells beautiful wooden products. We fell in love with the two chair and table combination. The chairs rock back and forth and swivel a full 360 degrees! (The chair set is one piece and costs $300.)
There were gazebos, swings, playsets, dog houses, and even a chicken house.
Wooden Chair Set
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Swiveling and Rotating Chairs
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Road Side Sign
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Swing Set
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What are Mennonites?
Mennonites are Christians whose sect is named after leader Menno Simons. This faith emerged during the Protestant Reformation. One of their main distinctions during that time was that they were Anabaptists -- or re-baptizers. They believed that a person who chose to follow Jesus should be baptized as a sign of that commitment (versus infant baptism).
For more about Mennonites, visit these FAQ at Third Way Cafe.
The Bakery Exterior on Highway 64
Backerman's Bakery
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Where is Backermann's Bakery?
Backermann's Bakery is in Hardeman County, Tennessee in the city of Whiteville which lies between Memphis and Jackson. It is very easy to find, right on Highway 64 between Somerville and Bolivar. If you are traveling east, Backermann's is on your right. If you are traveling west, Backermann's will be on the left.
Address:
260 US Highway 64
Whiteville, TN 38075
Telephone number
(731) 254-9199
Hours: Monday: 9:00 - 2:00; Tuesday - Saturday: 7:30 - 5:00
Backermann's Bakery
in Hardeman County Tennessee
Look for This Sign
Bakery Sign on Highway 64
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