Our Mission:  Crawfords Bakery  seeks to be Indianapolis's premier full line bakery , 
providing superior quality cakes, baked goods, deli items, and customized service, 
with a personal touch, to our customers in a pleasant and clean atmosphere every day.

Rick and Karen Crawford opened their first bakery in Lafayette Square Mall on the west side of Indianapolis in 1981, having purchased a Tiffany's Bakery franchise from Rick's aunt. Years prior to acquiring this bakery, Rick had baked his way through college in his aunt's bakery, as a "cookie boy," and after graduation worked for the Kroger Co. as a deli and bakery merchandiser. Karen also worked for Krogers as a deli restaurant manager. Rick and Karen's 750 sq. foot shop in Lafayette Square Mall featured cinnamon bread, Danish pastries, and cookies. Rick was the main baker and Karen, with the part time help of their thirteen-year-old daughter Jennifer, decorated cakes on a single wooden bench in the back room. Wedding cakes were delivered by using the couples two Omni hatchbacks.

The Tiffany's franchise dissolved in 1984 and Crawfords Bakery was born. The Crawfords quickly out grew the tiny mall space and decided to move to their current location at 1609 N. Capitol Ave. in 1987. At this time, the bakery's name was changed to Crawfords Bakery & Deli, as the Crawfords decided to incorporate a deli program, along with their established full line bakery, in order to capture a part of the area's busy lunch crowd. The 1911 building they moved into was divided into two shops: Crawfords Bakery & Deli with 3000 square feet and Pandell Florists, owner of the building, with 1000 sq. feet.

Due to an increase in customer sales, Crawfords Bakery & Deli expanded once more by taking over the space occupied by Pandell Florists in 1999. In 2002 Rick, a self-taught baker, received a Certified Master Baker certificate from the Retail Bakers of America. At this time there were only 135 CMB's in the United States, which is quite a distinction. 

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