Iconic Helms Bakery sign. Photo by Nicholas Busalacchi.

Helms Bakery holds a special place in Culver City’s past. Paul Helms opened his bakery in 1931 between Venice and Washington Boulevards, and the business thrived until 1969, when the bakery could no longer keep up with local supermarkets. Unlike we’re used to today, Helms bread was never sold in stores. Instead, drivers in yellow and blue trucks delivered it “daily to your door.”

Helms Bakery is famously associated with two major events in U.S. history. Shortly after opening its doors, the bakery won a contract to be the official bread supplier for the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. To this day, the sign above Helms Bakery reads, “Olympic Games Bakers – Choice of Olympic Champions.” Also, shortly before closing in 1969, the bakery was awarded a contract to supply bread to Apollo 11. We’re convinced the carbohydrates helped Neil Armstrong take that “giant leap for mankind!”

Postcards of Helms Bakery trucks. Photo by Nicholas Busalacchi.

The site reopened in 2013 after 44 years. While the original bakery is long gone, the revitalized Helms Bakery District is home to an eclectic array of home furnishing stores and the second iteration of Father’s Office–the popular Santa Monica-based gastropub. Like Culver City, Helms Bakery continues to evolve and redefine itself, while celebrating its storied past.

For more information on the Helms Bakery District, please visit the district’s official website.

Photo by Nicholas Busalacchi