History

The oldest section of the building was built in 1913, expanding on Dorsch’s White Cross Bakery. Dorsch and his brothers worked at bakeries throughout the city before opening their own bakery in Shaw. Born in DC, Dorsch was the son of a Bavarian immigrant who had come to Washington in the 1870’s and sold imported German foods.

As the Dorsch’s White Cross Bakery prospered, they acquired nearby real estate until the factory grew to a huge complex that encompassed retail space, a baking plant, stables and garages for delivery wagons…