Three Generations of Baking Life Sweeter
From left to right: Stephen Walsh, Morris Walsh, John Walsh.
Bethel Bakery started as a high school dream of Morris “Moe” Walsh.
Orphaned at the age of ten, Morris Walsh was raised by his aunt and uncle on a farm in Bethel Park. After Morris’ Aunt took a part-time salesclerk position at Dudt’s Bakery in Mt. Lebanon, Morris started working there as well. With his characteristic determination and drive, Morris learned the foundational skills of baking.
After serving in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, Morris realized his dream of opening a bakery. With $2,500 and the support of his fiancé, Anna Stockhausen, in 1955, Bethel Bakery began in three humble attached garages on South Park Road with parking for two cars.
Morris’ days started at 2 am and he worked until 6:30 pm six days a week. On Sundays the bakery was closed affording a welcome rest in the week for church and his growing family.
Three years later, with a handful of employees, Morris relocated the bakery to 5200 Brightwood Road, its current Bethel Park location. Through hard work and perseverance, Morris and Anna transformed their modest enterprise into a beloved neighborhood bakery.
As their family grew, seven children in total (John, Tom, Karen, Susanne, Marianne, Kathleen, and Christine), each child found their place within the bakery, and contributed to its growth and success.
Specializing in scratch baking and renowned for their beautifully decorated and delicious cakes, Bethel Bakery quickly became a cherished tradition for families celebrating special occasions. Notably, the bakery’s famous French Buttercream, made from scratch, became a hallmark of its offerings.
In 1991, Morris and Anna sold the business to John, their oldest son, and his wife Chris, thus beginning the second generation to bring high quality baked goods to the South Hills of Pittsburgh. John had managed the cake decorating department and his passion for the industry ignited while demonstrating cake decorating at the National Retail Bakery convention. John and his wife Chris have four children (Patty, Cami, Maria, and Stephen), the next generation of Walsh’s to have grown up in the bakery.
Despite challenges such as a fire in November of 1992, the bakery continued to thrive, with a new storefront and innovations such as picture images on cakes and the launch of its e-commerce website in the year 2000.
In 2006, Bethel Bakery became officially licensed to bake an iced shortbread Terrible Towel cookie with proceeds benefitting Merakey Allegheny Valley School. Also in 2006, Bethel Bakery was featured in the WQED documentary “What makes Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh” by Rick Sebak.
In 2016, Bethel Bakery opened a second location at 2500 Washington Road in North Strabane Township, further extending our reach and welcoming new patrons.
On July 1, 2023, Bethel Bakery became a third-generation business as Stephen, and his wife Kate, bought the business from his parents. Having grown up in the bakery, a couple years in the supply chain industry and four years in operations at Bethel Bakery, Stephen embraces the legacy of his grandparents, ensuring that Bethel Bakery remains a cherished destination in the Pittsburgh area.
