Nov 24, 2016

Photos and text by Barbara Haddock Taylor

James W. Hamlin, who grew up in the Druid Heights neighborhood, wanted to bring people back to Baltimore’s historic Pennsylvania Avenue. He hoped to provide the community with a valuable service and offer a unique product to entice visitors.

The result is The Avenue Bakery, which opened in the summer of 2011. The bakery makes cakes, pies, muffins, cookies, croissants and cobblers. By Thanksgiving of that year, word was out that the Avenue’s signature item, “Poppay’s” dinner rolls, were something unique. The rolls, which Mr. Hamlin has been making for around 20 years, were named by his granddaughter Bria.

Poppay’s rolls at Thanksgiving have quickly become a tradition for many Baltimore area families. They draw people from Virginia and Pennsylvania as well. Customers place orders well in advance, but the bakery also makes dozens more available on a first-come, first serve basis on the day before Thanksgiving.

Mr. Hamlin and his family and friends baked around 400 dozen rolls this week, working around the clock since Monday night. Jules Howie, a regular customer, picked up her rolls on Wednesday afternoon and said the bakery is “a treasure, a beacon of light in the community.”

: James Hamlin, owner of The Avenue Bakery, pulls a tray of his famous “Poppay’s” dinner rolls from the dough proofer. Next, they’ll be transferred to the oven for baking. Thanksgiving means making hundreds of dozens of “Poppay’s” yeast dinner rolls at The Avenue Bakery on Pennsylvania Avenue in the Druid Heights neighborhood. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: James Hamlin, owner of The Avenue Bakery, kneads dough for his famous “Poppay’s” dinner rolls. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: James “L. J.” Hamlin, grandson of owner James Hamlin, pours ingredients into a pot for his grandfather’s famous dinner rolls. L.J. hopes to run the bakery some day, he said. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Brandon Sorrell, 19, (grandson of owner James Hamlin) and Susan Dezurn, right, family friend, place finished rolls in boxes during the Thanksgiving rush at The Avenue Bakery. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: James Hamlin, owner of The Avenue Bakery, brushes melted butter onto a tray of his famous “Poppay’s” dinner rolls. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Regular customers Grace, 8, left, and Jules Howie, right, are happy as they leave The Avenue Bakery with a dozen rolls. Thanksgiving means making hundreds of dozens of “Poppay’s” yeast dinner rolls at The Avenue Bakery on Pennsylvania Avenue in the Druid Heights neighborhood. Ms. Howie said the bakery is “a beacon of light in the community.” (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Roosevelt Hammett, left, of Baltimore, gives his order to Susan Dezurn, right, who is working behind the window at The Avenue Bakery. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Toni Vonder Haar, left, of Baltimore picks up her order of 3 dozen “Poppay’s” dinner rolls from Brenda Hamlin, right, wife of owner James Hamlin of The Avenue Bakery. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Brenda Hamlin, wife of owner James Hamlin, talks to a customer at the pick up window of The Avenue Bakery. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: One entry in the guest book at The Avenue Bakery says, “I love coming here to get great sweets and rolls.” (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Susan Dezern puts orders together in the back room at The Avenue Bakery. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Rolls being boxed at The Avenue Bakery. Thanksgiving means making hundreds of dozens of “Poppay’s” yeast dinner rolls at The Avenue Bakery on Pennsylvania Avenue in the Druid Heights neighborhood. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: James Hamlin, owner of The Avenue Bakery, pulls a tray of his famous “Poppay’s” wheat dinner rolls from the oven. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Wheat dinner rolls are ready to be boxed at The Avenue Bakery. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: James Hamlin, owner of The Avenue Bakery, separates dough for his famous “Poppay’s” dinner rolls. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Belinda Frederick, left, helps her father James Hamlin, right, knead dough for his famous dinner rolls. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Brenda Hamlin, left, gets an order of rolls for Jules Howie, center, and her daughter Grace, 8. They are regular customers of The Avenue Bakery. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: James Hamlin, left, gives a dough kneading lesson to his grandson James “L.J.” Hamlin, center, in The Avenue Bakery. Thanksgiving means making hundreds of dozens of Mr. Hamlin’s signature “Poppay’s” yeast dinner rolls at The Avenue Bakery on Pennsylvania Avenue in the Druid Heights neighborhood. L.J. said he hopes to run the bakery some day. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Three generations of James Hamlins prepare ingredients for their famous “Poppay’s” dinner rolls. Left to right: James Hamlin, his son James “L.J.” Hamiln, and James W. Hamlin, right, who is the owner of The Avenue Bakery. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Customers line up outside The Avenue Bakery as owner James W. Hamlin, right, places his flag. The customers are lined up in the hopes of getting some of the bakery’s famous Thanksgiving “Poppay’s” yeast dinner rolls in time for Thanksgiving. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: “Poppay’s” wheat rolls are brushed with butter at The Avenue Bakery. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Belinda Frederick, left, helps her father James Hamlin, right, knead dough for his famous dinner rolls. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Customers line up in the lobby of The Avenue Bakery in hopes of getting some of the bakery’s famous “Poppay’s” dinner rolls in time for the holiday. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Donna Anderson of Baltimore writes a note in the guest book at The Avenue Bakery as she waits in line. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Customers line up in the lobby of The Avenue Bakery in hopes of getting some of the bakery’s famous “Poppay’s” dinner rolls in time for the holiday. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Owner James W. Hamlin, right, cracks eggs for his famous “Poppay’s” dinner rolls at The Avenue Bakery. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: James Hamlin, whose father James W. Hamlin owns The Avenue Bakery, pulls a cart with the bakery’s famous “Poppay’s” dinner rolls that are ready to be boxed. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Fresh from the oven wheat rolls are ready to be brushed with butter at The Avenue Bakery. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: James Hamlin, owner of The Avenue Bakery, pulls a tray of his famous “Poppay’s” dinner rolls from the oven. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: James W. Hamlin, owner of The Avenue Bakery, officially opens his store this morning. Thanksgiving means making hundreds of dozens of “Poppay’s” yeast dinner rolls at The Avenue Bakery on Pennsylvania Avenue in the Druid Heights neighborhood. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

Making rolls for Thanksgiving

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