Willi Probst Boulevard Café in Walvis Bay has been around for the past 65 years and is making ready for its birthday celebrations this weekend.
Known for their delectable fresh pastries, cakes, pies, toasties, belegte brötchen as well as small meals, Probst Bakery has become a household name in Walvis Bay.
The business is home to 22 permanent staff members, ensuring the smooth running of the bakery and restaurant, as well as pizza outlet and deli.
This family business was started by the great-grandfather and great-grandmother of Daniella Jansen van Vuuren who is currently running the business alongside her husband Marko Jansen van Vuuren. They have taken the reins over from her parents, who are still actively involved in the business.
She explained that her great-grandfather and great-grandmother Willi Snr and Mary Probst opened Probst Bakery in August 1957 after moving from Germany to Namibia. “My grandfather had followed his grandfather’s footsteps and studied to become a qualified baker and confectioner as well. In 1960 my grandparents, Willi Probst Jnr, and Liselotte (Lilo) Probst bought the business from my great-grandparents. Over the years they had renovated, expanded, and managed the family business.”
Keeping it in the family, Jansen Vuuren’s mother and father Fred and Astrid Deetlefs, who were the oldest of two daughters of Willi and Lilo took over the business in 2002. “Both are still currently actively involved in the running of the business. My husband and I, the oldest of three children, joined our parents in the business and are still very much under training. My brother, Willi Deetlefs is currently in the capital, while Sven Deetlefts, my youngest brother also assists us at the business."
In terms of the recipes, Jansen van Vuuren added that most of the recipes are still the same. "When you have something that works, you try and stick to it. My mom is always out looking for new recipes and you work on the feedback you get from the client and build up a database. We can't share any recipes, although there have been requests in the past. The brotchens recipe is still from my great-grandparent's time, and it hasn't changed over the years, even though acquiring the ingredients do get tricky because that does change over the years."
They added that Willi Probst Boulevard Cafe won't be able to operate without the key people running it, which includes the staff. "Without our staff, celebrating 65 years would not be possible. They are always smiling, always giving excellent service. Our logo describes it beautiful, growing up together and with our staff and community, we are doing it and we hope to see it carry on throughout the generations to come."
The Jansen van Vuurens attributed Probst's success thus far to its humble beginnings. "This is coupled with consistently producing the products on offer, putting love into what we do, and standing on the grounds of who is giving it to us, our gracious Heavenly Father. He is the one supplying, and we are only doing our part. In addition, it's also about community. We go through the tough times together, we are a small family, but with our staff and community we are a bigger family."
In terms of the celebrations taking place on Saturday, the The Jansen van Vuurens explained that they've been planning the occasion since last year. "We were not sure how things would pan out, in terms of the Covid-19 pandemic, but for Saturday, we are blocking off the complete street where the cafe is situated and we will have a street festival with games, stalls, and live music; German traditional music with some local sounds as well. It's just going to be fun, there will be a short period, where we will sell brotchens at the price it was 50 years ago, just to make it interesting."
The family calls on the entire Walvis Bay community to join in on the fun, Saturday from 08:00. "It's not about us, but those who have supported us over the last 65 years. The community is family, it's a milestone for us, but also for the community we operate in and we want to celebrate that together. Thank you for being there, for growing with us and teaching us things. We are immensely grateful."
Known for their delectable fresh pastries, cakes, pies, toasties, belegte brötchen as well as small meals, Probst Bakery has become a household name in Walvis Bay.
The business is home to 22 permanent staff members, ensuring the smooth running of the bakery and restaurant, as well as pizza outlet and deli.
This family business was started by the great-grandfather and great-grandmother of Daniella Jansen van Vuuren who is currently running the business alongside her husband Marko Jansen van Vuuren. They have taken the reins over from her parents, who are still actively involved in the business.
She explained that her great-grandfather and great-grandmother Willi Snr and Mary Probst opened Probst Bakery in August 1957 after moving from Germany to Namibia. “My grandfather had followed his grandfather’s footsteps and studied to become a qualified baker and confectioner as well. In 1960 my grandparents, Willi Probst Jnr, and Liselotte (Lilo) Probst bought the business from my great-grandparents. Over the years they had renovated, expanded, and managed the family business.”
Keeping it in the family, Jansen Vuuren’s mother and father Fred and Astrid Deetlefs, who were the oldest of two daughters of Willi and Lilo took over the business in 2002. “Both are still currently actively involved in the running of the business. My husband and I, the oldest of three children, joined our parents in the business and are still very much under training. My brother, Willi Deetlefs is currently in the capital, while Sven Deetlefts, my youngest brother also assists us at the business."
In terms of the recipes, Jansen van Vuuren added that most of the recipes are still the same. "When you have something that works, you try and stick to it. My mom is always out looking for new recipes and you work on the feedback you get from the client and build up a database. We can't share any recipes, although there have been requests in the past. The brotchens recipe is still from my great-grandparent's time, and it hasn't changed over the years, even though acquiring the ingredients do get tricky because that does change over the years."
They added that Willi Probst Boulevard Cafe won't be able to operate without the key people running it, which includes the staff. "Without our staff, celebrating 65 years would not be possible. They are always smiling, always giving excellent service. Our logo describes it beautiful, growing up together and with our staff and community, we are doing it and we hope to see it carry on throughout the generations to come."
The Jansen van Vuurens attributed Probst's success thus far to its humble beginnings. "This is coupled with consistently producing the products on offer, putting love into what we do, and standing on the grounds of who is giving it to us, our gracious Heavenly Father. He is the one supplying, and we are only doing our part. In addition, it's also about community. We go through the tough times together, we are a small family, but with our staff and community we are a bigger family."
In terms of the celebrations taking place on Saturday, the The Jansen van Vuurens explained that they've been planning the occasion since last year. "We were not sure how things would pan out, in terms of the Covid-19 pandemic, but for Saturday, we are blocking off the complete street where the cafe is situated and we will have a street festival with games, stalls, and live music; German traditional music with some local sounds as well. It's just going to be fun, there will be a short period, where we will sell brotchens at the price it was 50 years ago, just to make it interesting."
The family calls on the entire Walvis Bay community to join in on the fun, Saturday from 08:00. "It's not about us, but those who have supported us over the last 65 years. The community is family, it's a milestone for us, but also for the community we operate in and we want to celebrate that together. Thank you for being there, for growing with us and teaching us things. We are immensely grateful."
