About Us

The Bakery Unlimited has a history just as unique as the products that are made and sold in it. Starting this bakery was not originally planned or sought after. It was the perfect qualifications in a degree, meeting the right people at the right time and some divine intervention that made this special place what it is today. Marcia Sparks graduated from Iowa State University where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in food nutrition/chemistry research. Upon graduation, she was acquired by Harker’s Wholesale Meat in Le Mars, IA, where she was recruited to start and run their lab and quality control department. On her first day of work, she met her future husband, Jim Sparks. They married in 1972. The newlyweds had taken residence in Le Mars and Des Moines before moving to Winterset in 1975. They both enjoyed the location and the small town feel of Winterset. 

Over the next several years, the couple were blessed with 5 children (Nathan, Oliver, Benjamin, Katie and Ian).

Jim was in the insurance industry. A client of Jim’s had a Des Moines restaurant in which he was planning to go out of business. His client asked Jim if he knew anyone who would be interested in purchasing his equipment. After much thought, Jim and Marcia decided to buy the 60-quart mixer, pizza oven, bread rounder and ice cream freezer. They intended to resell the machinery, so they stored the items in their home garage. Within the year, the building on the square that was known as the “Midland Carpet” store was going to be selling. In 1983, Jim and Marcia were asked if they would be interested in buying the building. After re-evaluating their plans, they decided to use the machinery to start a bakery. As their family was growing, they had pondered the idea that the town needed a place for individuals/families to slow down and enjoy some good baking. Having Marcia’s own business would allow her to use her degree and raise her own family. 

The Bakery Unlimited’s Grand Opening was on the Saturday of the Covered Bridge Festival in October of 1984. The bakery had sold many different items over the years, but always primarily baked goods. At different times it offered: scooped ice cream, a salad bar, runzas, reubens, bagel sandwiches and popcorn. At one time, there were arcade games for the children to enjoy after school! The runzas and reubens were inspired by the Vander Meer Bakery in Le Mars; whom the owners were good friends. Jim and Marcia made and sold their own popcorn oil and grew and dried their own corn. The oil and dried kernels were a big hit! Unfortunately, over the years the ingredients for the oil became hard to find. 

Marcia also stayed busy with the many groups and organizations that she was a part of. For several years, she was the president for the Iowa Baker’s Association. She was also a member of the Retail Bakers Association and National Federation of Independent Businesses. 

Education was important to Marcia and she loved to teach others how to bake. Around the time they had moved to Winterset, microwaves were a new invention; so, she instructed the adult education course of microwave cooking for DMACC at the Winterset High School. Marcia continued to educate by hiring MOC students, hosting field trips and political leaders and candidates. Jim and Marcia had also hosted gatherings for their children’s sports teams and music groups. Each day, there are regulars and groups who meet at the bakery for coffee and donuts. For some, it is the only time that they get to enjoy a good conversation with others. Marcia has always looked for different ways to help her community. In 2020, she made and donated 250 loaves of bread to the community of Winterset, when bread was scarce in stores during the covid-19 pandemic. This was her way of feeding the community when they needed it the most. Every year on Memorial Day, we continue to donate bread and gift all donations back to local organizations. She has donated left over donuts to church, volunteers/first responders, and the bakery is a popular spot for eager trick or treaters and children picking their candy cane off the Christmas tree that Jim hung for them. If you look above the front door of the bakery, you will see a blue bicycle. That bicycle was bought by Jim and Marcia’s eldest son(Nathan). He collected enough pop cans to buy that bike so that he could go on the 1985 RAGBRAI (Registar’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa) with his father. He was the youngest rider that year. In June of 1993, Nathan went to be with Jesus at the age of 16.

Many folks do not know or remember that the bakery also had another location. The owners of the Adel Ben Franklin reached out and asked the Sparks to open a location in their building at the Northwest corner of their square. Adel had no such place as our bakery. In the early 1990’s, Jim and Marcia made daily deliveries of several full sheet boxes of donuts to their Adel location. They had a driver to deliver donuts to multiple locations in the Grimes, Dallas Center and West Des Moines area. After the struggle to maintain reliable help to run the Adel location and to deliver the donuts, Jim and Marcia decided to close the doors. The Bakery Unlimited was named for Marcia’s love of baking. She enjoyed using her knowledge in food nutritional research to invent new recipes. Her donuts became popular for a reason. No one else makes donuts like she did. The bakery continues to use her recipes for donuts, breads, pies and many other baked goods. The most well-known are her red delicious apple fritters. Since Jesse Hyatt’s famous first ever red delicious apple tree is in Madison County, she chose to make the apple fritter her signature item. When in season, the Sparks use apples from their own orchard in their fritters. We guarantee that you have never had a better apple fritter!

Our bakery has been named back-to-back years as a “10 Best Donut Shop” in the country by USA TODAY Readers’ Choice. In 2024 we came out as #5, this year we are #3. We were also included in the book 100 Things to Do in Iowa Before You Die by author Sara Broers. On December 3, 2024, Senator Joni Ernst recognized our bakery to the US Senate as being an exemplary small business. We are so humbled for these recognitions and the opportunity to display the Congressional Record and plaques on our wall.

In November of 2020, the community was saddened by Marcia’s passing. Jim and their daughter Katie, continue to run the bakery. Marcia’s recipes continue to be the core of the business. Her baked goods are made from scratch and with no added preservatives, just as she had made them. Our delicious glaze and marshmellow cream that we use for our donuts are also made in-house. You will immediately notice the difference as you savor each bite. Every morning, the case is filled with our freshly made donuts and the shelf with breads. It is best to come in early to get your favorites, since the doors open at 5:30 in the morning. Families and individuals come to the bakery for the delicious pastries, breads and the memories that can be made. In the mornings, it is common to see a face that you recognize and the opportunity to catch up with a neighbor or friend. Most of the employees who work at the bakery have their own fond memories of this place. Come visit The Bakery Unlimited and see for yourself how Marcia made this place special and why the locals call it “The Gathering Place”. It is an honor that our bakery has been enjoyed by so many!