Our Grandfather and founder, Otto Hänel Müller was born in New York City on October 5, 1890. Orphaned as a young boy, Otto was returned to Germany to be raised by his Uncle Maximilian in the small town of Kemberg in the Sachsen-Anhalt region of Germany. Maximilian and his brother Heinrich were Master Bakers who owned a popular Bakery in the nearby city of Halle an der Saale.
Otto was put to work in the family bakery by his Uncles at a young age, where he learned many of the ancient recipes we still use today, particularly during the holiday seasons. We are particularly proud of our Dresden Stollen, Strudels and Christmas butter cookies. At the age of eighteen, Otto returned to New York City where he worked as a baker before serving in the American Army and rising to the rank of Sergeant during the First World War.
Although Otto was raised in Germany, he always considered himself a proud American. It was in the Army that Otto changed the family name to “Miller”. After the end of the War, Otto founded the popular State Capitol Bakery and Luncheonette at 4705 Bergenline Avenue in Union City. Otto retired in 1942 and moved his family to a new home on Nelson Avenue in Cliffside Park.
By 1947 Otto was restless in retirement and opened a new modern Bakery at 720 Anderson Avenue in Cliffside Park. Our father, Donald, joined the Bakery after his discharge from the Army in 1952. Our Dad expanded the Bakery, moving it to its present location at the corner of Anderson and Knox Avenues in 1970. In the 1960’s and 1970’s the Bakery won many awards for wedding cake design and decorating excellence, a tradition we carry on today in the creation of our specialty cakes.
By the time he was a teenager, Dave Miller was working in the Bakery finding new ways to serve the community while maintaining the family tradition of the small town Bakery. Dave joined the Bakery full time after graduation from College in 1984 and for the first time the Bakery opened its doors by popular demand to its customers on Sundays. In 1988 and again in 2007 the bakery in Cliffside Park was completely renovated with the finest modern baking equipment.
In 1992 Dave’s brother Dwight joined the Bakery, and together in 1994 they opened Miller’s Bakery in their hometown of Tenafly. After six successful years at 35 Washington street, In 2000 they tripled the size and opened Millers Bakery & Cafe at 5 Washington. What is currently the most modern bakery in New Jersey. In Tenaflly and in Cliffside Park, the two brothers bring a century of fine baking experience and tradition to serve our customers in Northern New Jersey and beyond. Miller’s Bakery is proud of its past and looks forward to another century of baking for you every day and for that special occasion.