24 Days of Contra Costa Businesses: Mike’s Pastry Shop

If you ever find yourself craving a perfectly flaky pastry, a decadent cake, or a warm, fresh-baked loaf of bread, Mike’s Pastry Shop in Antioch has you covered. But beyond the display cases filled with Danish, strudels, cookies, and specialty cakes, the shop has earned something even sweeter: a reputation for generosity and dedication to the community.

That commitment was recently recognized when Mike’s Pastry Shop was named Small Business of the Year by the Antioch Chamber of Commerce—an honor owner Mike Van der Valk accepts humbly, noting that his many quiet acts of kindness have never been done for attention.

The bakery’s story stretches back decades. Van der Valk previously owned Berry’s Pastry Shop from 1989 to 2004, before selling the business. In 2009, he felt the pull to return to baking and opened Mike’s Pastry Shop.

“I felt like I wanted to do it again—my calling, so to speak,” he said. “We grew in large cakes such as wedding cakes and many specialty items. All made in-house.”

Today, everything at Mike’s Pastry Shop is still prepared from scratch, from doughs and breads to cakes, cookies, Danish, and puff pastries. Van der Valk’s goal is simple: to give customers a “sweet experience” every time they walk through the door.

December is one of the busiest months of the year, with a long list of holiday offerings including stollen, specialty breads, yule logs, cookies, pastries, strudels, and custom cakes. Customers hoping to place Christmas or New Year’s orders are encouraged to do so early — the cut off is a week before Christmas.

“We have a small staff,” he said. “We have to max out and cut off custom orders while still making sure we can supply the bakery for walk-ins.”

Christmas, he added, is busier than usual because “everything is extra”—from specialty cakes and cookies to stollen, strudels, and Danish.

Over the years, Van der Valk has seen his share of memorable moments. One of the most unusual special orders? Forty cakes being picked up in a tiny car.

L to R: Chocolate Croissant! & Cinnamon Croissant filled with apples and whipped cream.

The shop is also known for supporting nonprofits and community causes through donated cakes for auctions and fundraisers.

“It’s pretty amazing that our strawberry cake has fetched over $500 on several occasions across the Bay,” he said. “It’s fun to know that our St. Honoré was taken on the Potomac cruise on the Bay and served to some officials.”

Among the shop’s best sellers are the strawberry chiffon cake, chocolate banana cake, strudel, and cookies. While Van der Valk downplays being labeled a “staple” in Antioch, he credits consistency, hard work, and passion for baking.

Some of his favorite holidays to create for include Valentine’s Day, with heart-shaped and decadent cakes, and Easter, featuring bunny and basket cakes, hot cross buns, pastries, and cookies.

Van der Valk’s baking journey began while he was a junior in college, working at a Miami pastry shop called Andalusia, where he learned the craft. That experience eventually led to the opening of Berry’s in 1989 and later Mike’s Pastry Shop.

“The main difference between Berry’s and Mike’s is the number of employees,” he said. “At Berry’s, I had 15 employees. At Mike’s, it’s a skeleton crew—five at most. But the quality has always been our reputation. Our recipes are close to Berry’s from 1957, with the exception of higher-quality ingredients.”

L to R: Pies & Butterhorn

Even after decades in the business, Van der Valk still has personal favorites. His top choice is the butterhorn, which he enjoys every morning. He also loves the fudge cake, chocolate chip cookies, strawberry chiffon, and apple strudel.

Like many small business owners, he continues to face challenges.

“I am still struggling with the cost of employee help, cost of goods, more competition, and neighborhood changes,” he said. “Product costs are insane—cocoa, eggs, butter. Covid hit us hard. Party sizes dropped, which meant only small cakes. Today it’s tariffs, supplies, eggs, butter, paper products, boxes, and labor.”

Despite the hardships, Van der Valk says his greatest pride isn’t in awards or sales numbers—it’s simply being part of the community.

And for Antioch residents who have celebrated birthdays, weddings, holidays, and everyday moments with something sweet from Mike’s Pastry Shop, that pride is mutual.

Company Info

• Company: Mike’s Pastry Shop
• Contact: Michael van der Valk
• Phone: 925-757-3333
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook: mikespastryshop 
• Instagram: themikespastryshop

24 Days of Contra Costa Businesses

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