Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States New York State New York City Staten Island Holtermann's Bakery
Gastro Obscura

Holtermann's Bakery

In the middle of suburban Staten Island, a nearly 150-year-old bakery is preserving the art of a disappearing New York treat.

Staten Island, New York

Added By
Sam O'Brien
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
  Sam O'Brien/Atlas Obscura
  Sam O'Brien/Atlas Obscura
  Sam O'Brien/Atlas Obscura
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

If you don't live in Staten Island, or have a car, it's tough to get to Holtermann's Bakery. Most trekkers begin with a trip on the ferry, followed by a one-hour bus ride. But such is the price of traveling back in time. Holtermann's, in operation since 1878, is committed to preserving the art of several retro baked goods. 

Much about the bakery, from its warehouse-like stacking of its white-and-blue crumb cake boxes to its Pullman bread (so named because its perfect rectangular shape led to easy stacking and storage on Pullman train cars in late 1800s), feels like it hails from a simpler time. But Holtermann’s most beautiful throwback treat is the Charlotte Russe, a jam-filled mini sponge cake topped with a swirl of whipped cream and a single cherry. The single-serving sweet comes wrapped in a polka-dotted, scalloped container.

The Charlotte Russe has its roots in France, where a famous chef is said to have served a ladyfinger-lined, cream-filled cake to a visiting Russian (i.e., Russe) czar. (Another theory suggests the Russe was added as a reference to the a la Russe style of guests serving themselves at dinners.) The New York City adaptation became popular in the early 1900s, but by the century’s end, it was all but extinct. Holtermann’s is one of the last places still selling the real deal.

To those accustomed with the high-octane decadence of modern desserts, the Charlotte’s simple tuft of whipped cream atop a sliver of sponge cake might not seem like much. But to some nostalgic city-dwelling seniors, it remains a delicious treasure.

Related Tags

Baking Baker Sweets Rare Foods

Community Contributors

Added By

Sam OBrien

Published

September 20, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.silive.com/obituaries/2018/01/clifford_holtermann_owner_of_b.html
  • https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/09/nyregion/holtermanns-bakery-staten-island-bread.html
  • https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2012/02/lost-foods-of-new-york-city-charlotte-russe-067223
Holtermann's Bakery
405 Arthur Kill Road
Staten Island, New York
United States
40.564541, -74.155572
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Historic Richmond Town

Staten Island, New York

miles away

Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art

Staten Island, New York

miles away

Matt Green NYC Walk Marker

Staten Island, New York

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Staten Island

Staten Island

New York

Places 21
Stories 4

Nearby Places

Historic Richmond Town

Staten Island, New York

miles away

Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art

Staten Island, New York

miles away

Matt Green NYC Walk Marker

Staten Island, New York

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Staten Island

Staten Island

New York

Places 21
Stories 4

Related Stories and Lists

Get Thee To Totality: New York

List

By Atlas Obscura

A Global Tour of Bakeries With Fascinating Histories

List

By Diana Hubbell

Related Places

  • View of the full general store from the second floor.

    Chattanooga, Tennessee

    MoonPie General Store

    This beloved American snack was conceived by a hungry coal miner.

    Sponsored by Chattanooga Tourism
  • Bled Island potica

    Bled, Slovenia

    Bled Island Potica

    On a small Slovenian island, diners can mix and match a classic cake into dozens of sweet and savory flavor combinations.

  • A bronze statue of Little Debbie.

    Collegedale, Tennessee

    Little Debbie Park

    This unique park is dedicated to a favorite locally born snack line.

    Sponsored by Chattanooga Tourism
  • The pedigreed pistachios here are from Bronte.

    Rome, Italy

    Gelateria dei Gracchi

    Since 1999, this gelateria founded by a string instrument maker has been turning out some of Rome’s best scoops.

  • In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.

    Bangkok, Thailand

    Kor Panich

    Visit a century-old sweet shop serving gold-standard mango sticky rice.

  • Tai Tung Bakery has been in the business since 1943.

    Hong Kong

    Tai Tung Bakery

    Order a crunchy sugar-topped treat from one of Hong Kong’s oldest pineapple bun bakers.

  • Rafael Villalobos relies on locally harvested grains for his superlative pastries.

    Oaxaca, Mexico

    Bodaega

    This bakery forgoes industrial wheat in favor of locally harvested grains.

  • Krofi, an airy Slovenian doughnut, are one of the many treats for sale.

    Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Zvezda

    Since 1999, this bakery has been turning out the dreamiest tortes in the Slovenian capital.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.