Bauer Follows Lifelong Passion for Baking with New Business

Sweet treats are making a comeback at 224 4th Avenue, the former home of Holdrege’s Dairy Queen.

Elm Creek native and recent Hastings College graduate Whitney Bauer is opening 308 Bakery in the old DQ “barn” in January. 

“I’m excited to share my love for baking with the community and have a space where people feel welcome to enjoy a sweet treat,” she said.

Bauer began baking as a child in 4-H and has always loved sharing homemade treats with family and friends. Some of her sweetest memories come from baking alongside her grandmother, RoseMarie “Tootie” Florell of Holdrege, who passed away in May.

In high school, Bauer worked at the Central Mercantile bakery in Kearney for four years. She then started a business in college called 308 Baked. 

She graduated from Hastings College in 2025 with a degree in business administration and minors in accounting and marketing, and now she’s taking the plunge into full-time creative entrepreneurship.

“When the opportunity to be in Holdrege came about, I knew this community would be welcoming and supportive,” Bauer said. 

She said it has been a family affair to renovate the former DQ space from a cooking kitchen into a baking kitchen. For now, they are focusing on interior renovations.  

308 Bakery’s menu will consist of cookies, cakes, dessert bars, breads and truffles and will change based on the seasons and holidays. She has some special Swedish-themed items already planned for Holdrege’s Midsummer Festival in June.

So far, her customer favorites are cinnamon rolls, rye bread, and monster cookie bars. She will also bake custom cakes for birthdays, weddings and other special events. The 308 Bakery will serve drinks, including coffee and bottled drinks, with tea and lemonade available in the summer.

Bauer applied for and received a PCDC GO! Sparkle grant to help fund Christmas lights at her new location in December.

“I hoped the lights on the bakery would show the community that 308 Bakery is excited to join the community and that everyone is invited in when we are open to enjoy sweet treats together,” she said.

For more information or to place a custom order from 308 Bakery, contact Bauer at (308) 222-0532.