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Lybrand’s Bakery & Deli, the family-owned eatery in Pine Bluff, has been going strong since 1946. That is 74 years if you are keeping count, which is no small feat in the food and drink industry. The restaurant/bakery is currently owned by Joey Lybrand and his wife, Marcia. Joey is the grandson of the founder, and he and his wife have owned and operated it since 1986.
Lybrand’s has been on my radar for quite some time, and I finally made the 45-minute drive from Little Rock to Pine Bluff to visit the iconic bakery. In-house dining is currently closed, but they are doing carryout. It is just one of the many changes management and staff have had to deal with over the past several months.
“The bakery has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. We actually shut down for five weeks after the Governor’s mandate to close all dining rooms, but we reopened on April 28. Our customers showed up in a big way to support us. We have always had a drive-thru window, so we were already set up for carry-out orders. The PPP loan we received was a lifesaver, but that money is gone, so we are making it on a weekly basis. Lybrand’s has the best customer base, and of course, we could not survive without them. We also have a great team of employees who have rolled with all the changes. We have stayed positive and continue to pray that our business can survive this unprecedented time in our country,” says Marcia Lybrand.
And while I cannot vouch for lunch or breakfast from my visit, I can for the baked goods, and that includes an absolutely divine apple fritter.
“The apple fritter is popular because it is made from scratch daily with our donut dough, apples, and cinnamon. It’s then deep fried and glazed several times to add to its ooey, gooey texture. What’s not to love about deep-fried?”
I happen to agree with Marcia Lybrand’s deep-fried sentiments.
Other winners from that morning’s case included the strawberry Danish, cinnamon twist, and cinnamon roll, the latter of which is a smaller version than what you will typically see. This was a welcome sight, as it left me more stomach space to sample some other items.
Once we get past this pandemic, I plan on making another trip to check out Lyband’s breakfast. I hear they make a killer omelet. Or maybe I should go on “Hamburger Thursday.” Either way, I better get a gingerbread man cookie, which is apparently worth the drive.
One thing is for certain, I have only scratched the surface with what Lybrand’s has to offer. Here’s to my next road trip.
Did You Know?
Lybrand’s opened a second location in 1996 in White Hall. It is closed due to the pandemic, but will hopefully reopen in 2021.
Lybrand’s Bakery & Deli
2900 S Hazel St (Pine Bluff)
Phone: (870) 534-4607
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Lybrands has always been my favorite. My daughter moved to Houston and every time she comes home we have a lunch date to lybrands. They make beautiful and delicious special occasion cakes and cupcakes too!