About Hofer's
Hofer's Bakery was started by Horst & Gerda Hofer who came from Schwabach Germany to the U.S. in the late 1950's. After starting a chain of bakeries in Atlanta called Chateau Pastry Shoppe and a wholesale operation called European Bakeries Ltd., both operations for another company, the Hofer's decided to open their own Bakery in 1973. 18 years later, after having become one of the most recognized and award winning retail bakeries in the U.S., the Hofer's decided to build a second location. One couldn't have dreamed of a more unique location for a German bakery than in Helen Georgia.
The Alpine village of Helen, Georgia, is one of the top tourist attractions in the Southeast. Located a couple hours north of downtown Atlanta, Helen is tucked away in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Chattahoochee river winds through the middle of town giving the landscape amazing similarity to that of Bavaria. To complete the effect, the whole town was built to look like a Bavarian village. Chalets, cobblestone alleyways, and shopkeepers dressed in Lederhosen and Dirndls add old world charm. Annually, more than 35 events are held in Helen. The annual Oktoberfest is one of the largest held in the United States.
Hofer's of Helen, located on North Main Street, in downtown Helen is housed in the former home of the 1st National Bank of White County. After extensive remodeling, a real Bavarian Konditorei & Cafe was created.
The business is now owned and operated by the Hofer's son Ralph, who along with a trained staff, provides the quality of product and service on which the company was founded. The Bakery was built to combine old world quality and modern European equipment. We bake all our breads in a stone hearth oven. All the ingredients we use are the finest quality available.