Bakery

I worked a block from this place in Blooming Prairie for two months, and my boss quickly tired of hearing me complain every Monday. Why did I complain? Because The Bakery is open Saturday but closed Monday, leaving me with far-​inferior lunch options to start my workweek.
The Bakery is like Blooming Prairie itself — no-​frills but good overall. The lunch menu is very simple: choose from four or five types of meat, three types of bread and a couple of types of cheese for your sandwich, which is accompanied by chips and a cookie of your choice (I recommend the one made with M&Ms) for either $ 4 or $ 4.50, depending on whether the meat you choose is that day’s special. The baked goods are a bonus; I rarely partook but enjoyed the aroma. The store’s proprietors apparently arrive in the wee hours every morning to start baking, and they’re usually gone by mid-​afternoon, replaced by less-​experienced, younger part-​timers. It’s worth noting that the part-​timers generally aren’t as attentive and skilled as the proprietors themselves, so I always tried to order food before 3 or so in the afternoon.
Arrive at the right time of day and you’ll find the place full of seasoned residents talking about all things Blooming Prairie. It’s a great place to be a fly on the wall if you want to hear what’s really going on in town. The same can’t be said for The Bakery’s competition — a gas station with a deli and a sub chain that’s known for serving sandwiches that are about 70 percent bread.
The proprietors are friendly and will quickly remember your preferred order once you visit multiple times. Regardless of whether you’re a local or are passing through, this is your best lunch option between Austin and Owatonna.

Typical small-​town friendly bakery. I spotted this as I was driving south on 218 en route to Austin. So I knew when I traveled back north that I wanted to stop by.
It was a very quick stop for me, but they did appear to have your usual bakery fare… cake donuts, cake donuts w sprinkles & glaze, iced cookies, danishes, breads.
Staff was very friendlly.
And cake donuts were only 55c each.
There was a few tables inside and approx ½ a dozen people hanging around chatting up with coffee and donuts.