"If Geer Road had a heartbeat, it would probably smell like Pink Champagne Cake."
Olde Tyme Pastries first opened its doors on May 1, 1981 — and from that very first day, it has been woven into the fabric of Turlock. What began as a neighborhood bake shop has grown into a full-scale bakery, deli, and espresso bar that locals have relied on for 45 years. It isn't just a place to pick up a cake. It's a tradition.
Olde Tyme Pastries was founded by Terry Wagner — a visionary who believed Turlock deserved something more than a donut shop. His goal from day one was to build a true full-line traditional bakery: a place for high-end wedding cakes, European-style pastries, and fresh-baked breads made with care and craftsmanship. He established the Pink Champagne Cake and the Pineapple Cream Cheese Coffee Cake as gold standards for Turlock celebrations — recipes that locals still talk about today.
About thirteen years after opening, Terry relocated the bakery to its current high-traffic home on Geer Road, cementing Olde Tyme's status as a central hub of the city. Long-time residents remember him as a hardworking, community-first business owner who took a chance on a small bake shop — and built something that would go on to win National Bakery of the Year by the Retail Bakers of America in 1991, just ten years after opening its doors.
"He took a chance on a small bake shop — and built something that would become the Sweetest Bakery in America."
In 1979, two years before Olde Tyme Pastries ever opened its doors, Terry Wagner hired a young cake decorator named Terri Coonce. She was there from before the beginning — helping lay the groundwork for what would become a Turlock institution. When the bakery officially opened on May 1, 1981, Terri was already part of the family. For the next 37 years she showed up, learned her craft, and poured her heart into every order — all under the mentorship of the man who built it all.
Her talent didn't go unnoticed. In 2001, Terri competed in a national cake decorating competition in Indianapolis, Indiana — and took home 1st Place in Custom Design and 3rd Place Overall. It was a defining moment that cemented what everyone at OTP already knew: she was world class.
When Terry passed and the remaining Wagner family members retired, Terri didn't let the legacy fade. In 2016 she purchased the business and made it officially her own. She often credits the Wagners for the old-school recipes and the community-first culture she continues to uphold to this day. It is less a change of ownership and more a passing of the torch — from one devoted steward of the craft to another.
"It is less a change of ownership and more a passing of the torch — from one devoted steward of the craft to another."
Today Olde Tyme Pastries is a true family-run operation. Terri greets regulars by name, and the community has grown up alongside the bakery — quite literally. She is now crafting wedding cakes for the grandchildren of her very first customers. Third-generation celebrations, made right here on Geer Road.
Olde Tyme is a full-line bakery, which means they do everything — and they do it well. The Pink Champagne Cake and Classic Éclairs are the stuff of local legend, but the menu never stops evolving. Newer creations like the Love You So Matcha — a white cake with honey-lavender and matcha buttercream — show that after 45 years, OTP is still innovating.
The deli is a lunchtime institution in its own right. Built on fresh-baked bread made in house daily, favorites like the Turkey Pesto Panini and Turkey Cranberry keep the lunch crowd coming back week after week. And locals know the soup calendar by heart — Clam Chowder on Fridays, Loaded Baked Potato Soup on Saturdays.
Then there's the espresso bar, serving everything from classic lattes to their signature Glaciers — blended drinks that have earned their own loyal following.
"The kind of place where people sit down and stay a while — and have been doing so since 1981."
Walk in and you'll understand immediately. The rustic, cozy interior feels like a grandma's kitchen — warm, welcoming, and smelling of fresh bread and espresso. That's been the Olde Tyme way since May 1, 1981. And it isn't changing anytime soon.