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FROM CROISSANTS TO COMMUNITY Asia. “I’ll mix it with sweet cream cheese and
The Story of Marlo’s Bakery pipe it into a danish. It’s very popular in Hawaii
and the Philippines,” she added.
Small Team, Big Results
The bakery remains a small family operation
Women in Business Undeterred, she proposed something different: with a few seasonal staff rounding out the team,
bread and sweets. “They said awesome—we’ll especially in the busy summer months. They
take it. We don’t have anyone doing that,” she continue to sell at Fairbanks Farmer’s Market
recalled. on Wednesdays and Saturdays on College
That single “yes” launched a new direction. Road. Inside the bakery, locals come in for
Her sister suggested croissants, and they sold their favorites. The top sellers? Cream cheese
out in two hours on the very first day. “I didn’t danishes, chocolate croissants, and almond
realize the power of the croissant,” Catherine croissants. Seasonal hits include strawberry
said, laughing. By summer’s end, they were rhubarb tarts made with locally sourced rhubarb
making 120 croissants per market day. and miniature five-inch pies during the holidays.
After 12 years at the farmer’s market, in 2017, “People love them because they don’t have to
Catherine and her husband Tyler opened their choose just one big pie,” Catherine said.
brick-and-mortar location. It didn’t take long For the lunch crowd they serve three
before Tyler left his own job to join the bakery different savory croissants, plus a rotating
full-time. The demand was simply too high. weekly soup. Though the bakery doesn’t offer
A Menu Inspired by Heritage and Travel indoor seating, summer brings outdoor tables
In downtown Fairbanks is Marlo’s Bakery. Catherine’s Filipino heritage plays a subtle under a cozy tent.
Named after her daughter, pastry chef and but meaningful role in her baking. “I was born The heart of Marlo’s Bakery lies in its mission
entrepreneur Catherine Skrivanek’s sweet in the Philippines, but I hadn’t been back in to create joy through flavor, nostalgia, and
success story begins with humble roots at the 40 years until last year,” she shared. That trip flaky perfection. “I want people to come in and
local farmer’s market and has since risen—like reignited her connection to Filipino pastries, enjoy our pastries. I know they can’t come in
her famed croissants—into a beloved staple of like ensaymada—a soft, fluffy roll topped with everyday, but when they do, I want it to be a
the community. whipped butter, sugar, and a little bit of cheese. special treat for them.” says Catherine.
From Farmer’s Market to Flourishing “People always assume we have donuts and we Whether you’re a local grabbing your favorite
Storefront do not, but this is the closest thing to a donut croissant or a visitor discovering Filipino
Catherine’s journey into baking wasn’t because its super light and fluffy.” pastries for the first time, one thing is certain—
born from a grand business plan, but rather a Other Filipino offerings include pandesal, Marlo’s pastries are made with a combination of
pivot. Originally wanting to serve hot food at a sweet dinner roll, and ube-infused creations butter, sugar and a whole lot of love.
the farmer’s market, Catherine was told there featuring the vibrant purple yam with a slightly Visit Marlo’s Bakery at 206 Driveway
was no room for another hot food vendor. nutty, and vanilla-like flavor, popular in Southeast Street, Fairbanks, AK

WELCOME TO FAIRBANKS
JCT. RICHARDSON HWY 2, GEORGE PARKS
HWY 3 & STEESE HWY 6
Fairbanks
Location: Mile 358 George Parks Highway
and Mile 363 Richardson Highway (from
Valdez); 358 miles north of Anchorage; 120
miles north of Denali National Park via the
George Parks Highway and 200 miles south
of the Arctic Circle. Population: City: 32,000,
Fairbanks-North Star Borough, 84,380. Visitor
Information: Fairbanks Convention & Visitors
Bureau Information Center: 101 Dunkel St, Suite
111, Fairbanks, AK 99701-4806; Phone (907)
456-5774; Fax: 907-459-3757; Toll Free 1-800-
327-5774; Email: info@explorefairbanks.com.
Brochures are also maintained at the Alaska
Railroad Passenger Depot and Fairbanks
International Airport. Alaska Public Lands
Information Center: 250 Cushman, Suite 1-A,
Fairbanks, AK 99701; Phone: (970) 456-0527;
Fax: (907) 456-0514; Website: www.nps.gov/
aplic. Tanana Chiefs Conference, 122 First
Avenue, Suite 600, Fairbanks, AK 99701;
Email: info@tananachiefs.org; Website: www.
tananachiefs.org.
trading post along the banks of the Chena River. Incorporated as a city in 1903, Fairbanks was named
Fairbanks is Alaska’s second largest city and Barnette made his temporary post permanent the after Senator Charles Fairbanks from Indiana, who
the unofficial capital of the Interior. Surrounded following year when an Italian immigrant named was later Vice President under Theodore Roosevelt, at
by picturesque mountains and forested hills, this Felix Pedro discovered gold nearby. The word spread the suggestion of Judge James Wickersham, a man of
progressive city serves as the trade and transportation quickly and a stampede of gold seekers soon reached great political importance. In exchange for this favor,
center for Alaska’s interior. the Interior. In the next 70 years, military spending and Wickersham made the town the seat of the Federal
Fairbanks was founded by chance in 1901, when construction, the victory of statehood, the destruction Court System. Needless to say, this did a great deal
Captain E.T. Barnette was forced to disembark from of a flood and the discovery of oil left their effects on towards ensuring Fairbanks’ future after the boom of
the steamship Lavelle Young and set up a temporary Fairbanks’ history of booms and busts. the Gold Rush.

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