Peoples’ Baking Co (Now Folkmanis Puppets)

The stunning brick warehouse at 1219 Park Avenue was originally constructed around 1917 as Peoples’ Baking Company.

Peoples produced a complete line of baked goods which it delivered to homes and stores in a fleet of trucks painted to match its bread wrapper—red and white gingham checks.

This brick building is unique because it is constructed of both large and small bricks, and the frieze forms little arches. The doorway is original and there is a hoist for lifting heavy objects on the second floor.

The building was also occupied by the Higgins-Magee Printing Ink and Chemical Corporation and the Oakland Paper Box Company.

The building has been occupied by Folkmanis Puppets since the 80s who design and manufacture a variety of hand puppets.

The warehouse was damaged by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and received a $300,000 seismically retrofitting the following year.

Folkmanis currently manufactures over 200 of its custom plush puppets that are sold throughout the world.