Four men were spotted stealing Fourth of July decorations from Moeller’s Bakery on Stella Link around 11 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30.
SOUTHSIDE PLACE, Texas — Houston’s oldest family-owned bakery is celebrating 95 years in business this month, but thieves started things off on a sour note.
Moeller’s Bakery on Bellaire Boulevard near Stella Link Road has been serving up delicious goodies to residents of Southside Place, Bellaire and West University for nearly 10 decades.
According to Moeller’s Bakery manager James Atwood, the thieves stole iconic Fourth of July banners that had decorated their windows for decades. They included the hand-painted Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights and Preamble to the Constitution.
An employee leaving work around 11 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30, spotted four young men in a black lifted truck ripping down the patriotic banners and speeding away. He thinks there was a Texas Longhorn sticker on the truck.
The Southside Place Police Department is investigating the case and checking surveillance cameras in the area.
Atwood said a local artist hand-painted the banners about 20 years ago, but she’s since retired.
While it may have been a college prank, the cost of replacing the treasured window decor could be pricy.
Moeller’s isn’t letting the thieves spoil its 95th anniversary celebration. They’re offering some items for 95 cents this month, and anyone who wishes them a happy anniversary gets a free slice of cake.
The history of Moeller’s Bakery
Moeller’s was founded by brothers Goswin “Gus” Moeller and his brother Raymond in 1930.
It’s remained family-owned and operated for more than nine decades.
Moeller’s still uses original recipes from the 1930s with no additives or preservatives.
They bake the oven inside a pre-World War II carousel oven. It holds 12 to 18 baking sheets on shelves that rotate to ensure they are baked evenly.
According to its website, Moeller’s 15 employees have a combined total of 224 years of experience at the beloved bakery. Two of them, Miss Dorothy and Miss Carol, have been there for 50 and 40 years, respectively.
