Everyone in Poulsbo knows Sluys Bakery.
Walk along Front Street and you can’t help but be tempted by the doughboys, cookies and Viking cups on display in the front window.
Now, thanks to PBS’ special, “A Few Great Bakeries,” people all across the country know about this local favorite.
“People come to Poulsbo specifically to go to Sluys,” said one customer in the program that aired on Aug. 25. “Sluys is the best part of Poulsbo. It is Poulsbo.”
The program, hosted by a man named Rick Sebeck of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, goes around the country highlighting different small-town eateries. There have been episodes about hot dog stands, pizzerias and even pie shops, including a tour of A la Mode Pies in Seattle.
“We got a call from Rick Sebeck, and he wanted to know if we would be interested in them coming out to video our bakery and find out what we do,” said Stephanie Richards, administrator of Sluys Bakery.
Sebeck had heard of Sluys when somebody in his office said, “If you are going across the country to the west coast, you need to go to Sluys Bakery; they have the best bakery.”
“A lot of people have been so excited,” Richards said. “They come and say, ‘We saw you guys on TV.’ It’s such a great small town here.”
In the clip, owner Dan Sluys talks about the history of the place and workers showed how they make fan favorites, like Poulsbo bread and the ever-alluring viking cup. One customer in particular explained how he specifically eats his Viking cup piece by piece, before Dan’s father, original owner Marion said, “It’s a sticky one, and you should probably finish it before you get to the car.”
Other fans are happy that Sluys is finally getting this kind of recognition.
“People say, ‘We know that place, we go there,’ and that we really do have the best products,” Richards said. “I think it was a great video overall showing all the different bakeries. They’re all unique.”
The video, which can be found on the PBS website as well as YouTube, showcased several other bakeries across the country as well as Sluys, and people took notice of the little bakery up north.
One couple from Pennsylvania, who came in on the morning of Sept. 10, told Richards that they saw the program on PBS and had to come see for themselves.
“This couple was in Seattle for a wedding and said they had one free day, and they chose to come over and see us,” Richards said. “We get some really neat people.”
To watch the episode featuring Sluys, as well as bonus footage not aired, visit www.video.pbs.org/program/a-few-great-bakeries. And head in to Sluys to showcase how you devour your Viking cup.
