Merzbachers

Join us for an exciting Q&A session with Pete Merzbacher, the founder of Merzbacher’s of Germantown, a beloved local bakery that has been delighting taste buds since 2012. This is your chance to learn about the journey of a successful entrepreneur and the art of crafting delicious, artisanal bread.

Event Highlights:

• Hear Pete’s inspiring story of starting a bakery business from his own kitchen
• Discover the secrets behind Merzbacher’s delicious bread and diverse product offerings
• Learn about the challenges and triumphs of growing a successful local business
• Gain insights into the history and complexity of breadmaking
• Understand how Merzbacher’s has become a cherished community institution
• Get your questions answered directly by Pete during an engaging Q&A session
• Pete Merzbacher, a new GS&AC member, will share his entrepreneurial journey, from humble beginnings to establishing a thriving bakery in Ken Weinstein’s expanding commercial and residential hub at Wayne Junction.

The Q&A will be led by George McNeely, a GS&AC member and architectural historian who lives in Germantown. George writes “Our Town,” an occasional architectural history column for “The Chestnut Hill Local.”

As a special treat, Pete will be bringing plenty of freshly baked bread for attendees to snack on during the event. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, engage, and celebrate the success of a local business that truly embodies the slogan, “Bread to Share.”

Pete Merzbacher is the founder, owner, and head baker at Merzbacher’s, an artisan bread bakery headquartered in the historic Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia. Merzbacher’s prides itself on providing bread to some of the region’s best restaurants, cafes, and grocery stores. Pete is committed to the mantra of “bread to share,” creating products that nourish people, and building a company culture that strengthens the communities it serves.

About Pete Merzbacher:

Pete is both pragmatic and visionary, consistently envisioning exciting futures that accommodate countless constraints and challenges.

From a very early age, he displayed strong entrepreneurial tendencies -curating micro yard sales, inventing creative candies, and offering skateboarding lessons in his neighborhood. Upon graduating from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a self-designed degree in Globalization and Entrepreneurship, his global curiosity and community-building desire had firmly taken root. Notably, he graduated Summa Cum Laude and was admitted into Phi Beta Kappa -the oldest and most prestigious academic honor society in the United States.

After graduation, Pete worked with AmeriCorps to install community gardens with young adults in Springfield, MA. Two years of urban gardening later, he relocated to Philadelphia to immerse himself in the city’s burgeoning food scene. As a line cook at Talula’s Garden, he often stayed in the kitchen after hours, experimenting with bread baking. Within months of baking his first loaf, he was selling them to friends, neighbors, and a handful of businesses via door-to-door bicycle drop-off. Thus, a business was born.

Today, Merzbacher’s is renowned for its modern takes on classic breads. The Philly Muffin, a square-shaped English muffin, quickly became a local favorite, and the Sweet Potato Bun and French Toast Loaf followed suit as the next hit products. Pete continues to uphold the ethos of “bread to share.” Merzbacher’s has now grown to employ a team of 22 dedicated staff, all working towards the common goal of producing standout artisanal bread products. The success of these unique offerings has propelled their weekly bread sales to an impressive $36k.

Pete stands ready for the next challenge, guided by the same values that have shaped his journey so far. In pursuit of further growth, he is open to taking on a partner. In addition, Pete is planning a podcast called “Underdog Economics” which is about the interplay of macro forces with the micro challenges of small business. Away from his professional life, he enjoys gardening, playing guitar, and cooking for friends.