Uncle Mike's Bake Shoppe

OVERVIEW
Nathan Vande Walle, co-owner of Uncle Mike’s Bake Shoppe, always knew he would be part of the family business. His grandparents, Don and Norma, bought their first bakery in 1974, later founding Vande Walle’s Candies in Appleton, WI.

Their son, Mike, worked in the bakery growing up. Those early experiences inspired him, and he attended baking school to follow his passion. In 2001, he branched off from the family business to fulfill his dream of starting his very own bakery: Uncle Mike’s Bake Shoppe. It was a dream that also included his wife and children, Nathan and Brittni, making the entire operation that much sweeter.

Their first location in De Pere was so successful that in 2004, they expanded to Suamico. After winning the best Kringle in North America in 2013, there was a big push for growth. In 2018, the Vande Walle’s felt it was time to expand again, which is when they looked to Alliance Construction & Design for support.

A SWEET PARTNERSHIP
The Vande Walle family had known of Alliance for a few years, but choosing them as their building partner came down to trust.

“Being a small business, it was really important to work with people we are comfortable with,” Nathan says. “We were putting a lot of money into building onto my family’s dream, so it was huge to work with someone we trusted.”

That trust was not misplaced. Uncle Mike’s has been thrilled with the Alliance team and feels they have simplified the entire process.

“Alliance has been spot-on when it comes to meeting our needs,” Nathan says. “When something has to change, whether it’s due to regulations or feasibility, they work hard to find a solution that keeps us on schedule and satisfied. They do a great job and really stay on our team throughout the process.”

As the bakery has increased in popularity, Uncle Mike’s has continued expanding, and they know who they can call on.

“Whenever I have a project coming up, I know I can reach out to Alliance, get quick estimates, and move forward,” Nathan says.

“We’re very comfortable working with them. Honestly, I often don’t even seek other bids because I trust Alliance. I know where to go. They do quality work, and the value is there for what we’re paying.”

A RECIPE FOR GROWTH
With the success of the bakeries, the Vande Walle family found that they did not have enough production space to match the demand, so they called on Alliance again. To better serve the three bakeries, they renovated a building into a production facility. Now their capacity has grown to include 70 bakers to fulfill orders globally.

Then, Alliance built their latest project in Appleton, WI: The Food Emporium, which offers not just baked goods, but also coffee, ice cream, pizza, cocktails, and beer.

“One of our bigger challenges was with our new Appleton store, which is half bakery, half restaurant, and includes a 100% wood-fired pizza operation,” Nathan says.

“There aren’t many facilities like that, and it led to some conflicts with the state. But Alliance worked closely with inspectors and figured it out. In the end, we got exactly what we were hoping for. I’ve been highly satisfied with the whole team at Alliance. They’re professional, responsive, and committed to finding a way to get the job done, whether it’s meeting your budget or delivering exactly what you’re looking for.

CONCLUSION
Mike loved putting a smile on people’s faces with his baked goods, and today, his family carries on this tradition with passion. More than that, Nathan loves the family environment they have created throughout the years and being able to make a workplace that employees can be proud of.

As Uncle Mike’s continues to grow and expand, they know they have a building team they can count on.

“Growth is one of our biggest goals. We have our fifth store opening, which Alliance is building for us, and we hope to keep expanding,” Nathan says. “Right now, we’re in Green Bay and Appleton, but we’re aiming to grow outward from there.”