KNAKAL’S BAKERY

N o trip downtown should be complete without visiting one of the oldest businesses in Culpeper: Knakal’s Bakery. Owned and operated by Dwayne and Beth Whitt for more than four decades, this bakery is going on 88 years strong. It has won the Culpeper Times’s Best of the Best Bakery award for many years.

On the weekends, it’s common to see people patiently queue up out the door. Why? They know these baked goods, packed in their classic white boxes, are worth the wait.

Inside the glass display cases, there are 16 different kinds of donuts and an assortment of glazed donut holes, polka rolls, cake bars, different kinds of cupcakes, cakes, cookies, spice bars, fudge nuts, three types of pecan sandies, yeast biscuits and the locally-famous apple bread.

“Everything is made here and baked fresh daily,” Beth Whitt said. “At Christmas, a few holiday cookies are brought in, but everything else is made on site.”

Only two families have run Knakal’s in 88 years: the Knakals and the Whitts. It is a living Culpeper legacy, with its offerings practically the same as when it opened in 1935. The recipes used today have been passed down from the first owners to the Whitts in 1977 to continue its tradition.

“I think this is why we have been here for so long because we have had the specialties people have liked for so long,” Whitt said.

The bakery is the same size as when it opened in 1935 and the glass display cases are arranged in their original fashion. As another nod to its roots, the original Knakal’s sign from the thirties is still on display.

The Whitts get up early before the sun rises to bake each donut, cookie and cupcake fresh.

Right now, Whitt is in her 38th year of operating the bakery. Meanwhile, Dwayne is in his 46th year and has been baking since he was 14-years-old.

“It’s the only job I’ve ever had,” Dwayne Whitt said. “I must be pretty good at it because I’ve been here a long time. Times have changed, but our products haven’t throughout the years. Nobody ever taught me. I just watched my father and learned. The hours are long. You have to be dedicated.”

“We keep everything the same so that when people come by after many years, they still remember the taste. We hear stories about kids who used to spend their lunch money here and get donut holes — a lot of good memories,” Whitt said. Locally, businesses and schools know who to call when they want sweet treats.

Knakals supplies many baked goods for corporate events, school functions and special occasions. When a coworker shows up with Knakal’s iconic blank white boxes, everyone knows where it’s from.

The bakery also gets busy during wedding season and national hol- idays since it’s well known for its excellent custom cakes, cookies and cupcakes. If you’re ever in a rush, you can also grab a delicious blank pre-made cake.

For an added dose of nostalgia, you can also get a classic plain cup of drip coffee with creamer. Whitt keeps her coffee simple to complement downtown’s specialty coffee shop, Raven’s Nest, nodding to a spirit of a specialty business camaraderie in Culpeper.

“When people come back, they want to see if we are still here and what is still left on the street. And we’re still here. We feel fortunate to have been here for 88 years and hope to be here for many more.”

Come visit one of the oldest and most cherished businesses in town — a living history of Culpeper.

Knakal’s is located at 146 E Davis St, Culpeper, VA 22701.