Cookies thinner than a playing card were not on my list of things to chase across North Carolina, yet here I was, steering toward a strip of shops with an empty stomach and a full gas tank. The building looked ordinary from the parking lot.
Then the door swung open, and the smell of warm sugar and sharp cheddar hit me like a hug from a grandmother I never knew I had. One bite later, I understood why folks have been making this same trip for nearly a century.
A Thruway Shopping Center Landmark on South Stratford Road
Winston-Salem sits in the heart of the North Carolina Piedmont, and right in the middle of its busy west side you will find Dewey’s Bakery at 262 S Stratford Rd. The shop lives inside the Thruway Shopping Center, a lively retail hub that locals have visited for generations.
Getting there is simple. Interstate 40 and Business 40 both swing close by, so travelers coming from Greensboro, Charlotte, or the Blue Ridge foothills can roll in without much fuss.
Once you arrive, look for the cheerful storefront tucked among clothing boutiques, gift shops, and casual eateries.
Inside, Dewey’s works as part bakery, part gift shop. Glass cases hold cupcakes, cake squares, eclairs, and cream horns, while shelves stock tins of the famous Moravian cookies and boxes of cheese straws.
Visitors often mention how much there is to browse beyond the pastry counter.
For fall road-trippers, the location is a bonus. You can grab a sweet treat, wander the surrounding shops, and still have plenty of daylight left for a scenic drive.
It makes an easy anchor stop for any Piedmont weekend, whether you are passing through or planning a full day in town.
Born in 1930 With a Very Modern Oven
Back in 1930, when money was tight across the country, a baker named Dewey G. Wilkerson opened his doors in Winston-Salem.
Starting a business during the Great Depression sounds bold, and it was. Still, the gamble paid off.
Here is a fun bit of trivia for your car ride: Dewey’s became known as the area’s first all-electric bakery. At a time when many kitchens still leaned on older methods, that was a genuinely modern move.
Neighbors took notice, and the shop quickly grew into a local favorite.
Community support shaped the bakery’s story from the start. During World War II sugar rationing, loyal customers chipped in sugar so their favorite treats could keep coming.
Later, in 1955, a fire damaged the business, and once again the town rallied to help it rebuild.
That same year, the flagship store moved to the Thruway Shopping Center. Today it holds a special title as the only original business from that era still operating there.
Standing at the counter, you are part of a tradition that stretches back almost a hundred years, and that history adds real flavor to every bite.
Cheddar Cheese Straws With a Cayenne Wink
Crunch first, then cheese, then a sneaky little warmth at the back of your throat. That is the journey a single Dewey’s cheese straw takes you on, and it happens in about three seconds.
These savory sticks are a classic Southern snack, the kind that shows up at holiday parties and church socials across North Carolina. Dewey’s makes theirs with wheat flour, premium extra-sharp aged cheddar, and a touch of cayenne pepper.
The result is buttery and crisp with a bold cheese bite that keeps you reaching back into the box.
The bakery also stresses using real ingredients, skipping artificial flavors, preservatives, and synthetic colors. You can taste that honesty.
Nothing feels fake or overly salty.
On a fall road trip, cheese straws are a smart buy. They travel well, they balance out all the sweets you will likely pick up, and they pair nicely with a thermos of hot cider on a mountain overlook.
You will also spot them tucked into curated gift boxes that highlight a Taste of North Carolina, which makes them a handy pick for anyone on your list who prefers savory over sugary.
The World’s Thinnest Cookie
Hold one up to the window and you might almost see light through it. Moravian cookies are famously wafer-thin, and Dewey’s proudly calls its version the world’s thinnest cookie.
These crisp rounds carry deep roots in Winston-Salem, a city shaped by its Moravian heritage. Dewey’s has become one of the best-known names tied to them, and regulars say the shop is a go-to place for picking up tins to share with friends outside North Carolina.
Staff members are happy to walk you through the flavors before you choose.
The lineup is impressive. Classic Sugar and Triple Ginger are longtime favorites, while Meyer Lemon brings a bright, zesty snap.
Brownie Crisp, Toasted Coconut, Salted Caramel, Pumpkin Spice, and Hot Cocoa round out the collection.
One honest tip from past buyers: these cookies are delicate. A few visitors have noticed broken pieces in tins after travel, so pack them carefully and keep them away from heavy bags.
Broken or whole, though, they still taste wonderful by the handful. Snack on a few in the car, save the rest for home, and you will see why they have earned such a loyal following.
Moravian Sugar Cake, Buttery and Proud
Ask a longtime fan what to order, and plenty will skip the cookies entirely and point straight at the sugar cake. Some even call it the very best thing in the building.
Moravian Sugar Cake is a rich coffee cake with a soft, yeasty crumb. Its top is dotted with little wells filled with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon, which melt together into sweet, gooey pockets.
Every slice tastes a bit like a cozy morning.
It shows up as a staple year-round, but it really shines in autumn. Dewey’s includes it in its Fall Favorites collection, right alongside the seasonal cookies, so it feels like the official breakfast of a chilly North Carolina weekend.
Here is a road-trip idea worth stealing. Pick up a sugar cake on Saturday, warm a slice in a toaster oven at your cabin or hotel, and enjoy it with coffee while the leaves change outside.
It stays tender for a good while, and it makes a thoughtful host gift if you are visiting family. Just know that sharing might get tricky once people taste it, so consider grabbing two.
Pumpkin Spice Season Behind the Glass
Orange frosting, tiny candy leaves, and the scent of cinnamon floating everywhere. Walk into Dewey’s in autumn and the whole shop seems dressed for the season.
The Fall Favorites lineup brings back limited edition Pumpkin Spice and Salted Caramel Moravian cookies, along with Hot Cocoa and Triple Ginger versions that feel right as the weather cools. Of course, the beloved sugar cake joins the party too.
Decorated treats steal the show. Look for Happy Fall Cake Squares, Fall Sheet Cakes, Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes, and Fall Sugar Cookies shaped and iced for the season.
There are even Fall Yule Logs, rolled cakes that make a handsome centerpiece for a harvest dinner.
Why does this matter for travelers? Because seasonal items come and go.
Planning your visit for the fall months means you get to taste flavors that are not around the rest of the year. Pair a stop here with a drive through the Piedmont’s colorful backroads or a hop up toward the Blue Ridge Parkway, and you have a full autumn day in North Carolina.
Bring a cooler bag for the frosted goodies, since sheet cakes deserve a smooth ride home.
Cupcakes, Cake Squares, and That Pink Lemonade Cake
Pink frosting has a way of making grown adults giddy, and Dewey’s Pink Lemonade Cake proves it. Visitors bring it up again and again, calling it their all-time favorite in both full cake and cupcake form.
The flavor is sweet and tangy, light enough that one slice rarely feels like too much. It is also a popular pick for custom celebration cakes, and guests say it tastes just as good as it looks.
Cupcakes rank among the most talked-about treats overall. They come in plenty of varieties, so it is easy to build a mixed box for the car.
Cake squares are another crowd-pleaser, small frosted bites that work well when you want a little of everything.
A practical note for planners: cake square platters have limits on how many flavors you can choose. If variety matters to you, some guests suggest buying squares individually instead.
That way you get the exact mix you want for a party or picnic.
Whatever you choose, these colorful sweets are the kind of treat kids remember. They also make a fun reward after a morning of leaf-peeping or wandering downtown Winston-Salem.
Eclairs, Cream Horns, and Other Old-School Pastries
Some pastries never go out of style, and Dewey’s keeps a few of the best ones in steady rotation. Eclairs and cream horns are two names that come up often when regulars describe what they love.
The eclairs earn especially warm praise. One longtime fan said they had sampled nearly everything in the case and still named the eclair their personal favorite.
Cream horns, with their flaky spirals and fluffy filling, carry that same nostalgic charm.
Beyond those classics, the bakery offers pastries, dessert bars, coffee cakes, pies, tarts, and cinnamon rolls. Brownies get nods for their rich chocolate flavor too.
It is a broad menu, and part of the fun is pointing at something new each visit.
One small tip for anyone ordering ahead: delicate pastries like eclairs can shift in the box. If you are serving them at an event, ask how they will be packed and let staff know you need them looking pretty.
A few minutes of conversation at pickup can save your display.
For eating on the spot, though, just grab one and enjoy. Freshness and flaky layers are best right away.
Custom Cakes That Steal the Party
A two-tier birthday cake, a fairy-tale swan theme, a wedding design with fancy piping. Dewey’s cake decorators handle all of it, and customers often describe the results as beyond what they imagined.
The process feels personal. Guests say they bring in inspiration photos, and staff sketch out the design right there, adding details like colors, tiers, and fillings.
One parent mentioned that a custard filling added only about ten dollars, with no extra fee for multiple colors. The shop even placed the family’s own toppers and candle on the cake.
Speed is another perk. One newcomer to town found Dewey’s was the only local baker able to make a custom cake with 48 hours notice.
Others plan further ahead, picking up their creations about a week later.
Wedding couples praise the skilled piping work and flexible planning. Decorators get repeated credit for their talent.
Custom cakes do cost more than grab-and-go treats, so set expectations going in. Also ask about packaging for long drives, since a snug box helps a decorated cake arrive in one piece.
For special occasions, though, this is where the bakery truly shows off.
Sweet Smells, Free Cake Mondays, and Plenty of Gifts
More than one visitor has wished someone would bottle the smell of this place. Step inside and the air is thick with cupcakes, pastries, and warm sugar, the kind of aroma that makes you smile before you even reach the counter.
Friendly staff come up more than almost anything else in what guests share. People describe the team as kind, welcoming, and patient while you decide between flavors.
Some even remember specific employees going out of their way to help.
Here is a happy surprise: Mondays are free cake days, and guests recall receiving a small complimentary piece. It is a sweet reason to time your visit.
The shop doubles as a gift store, too. Shelves hold mugs, books, pillows, and plenty of North Carolina themed merchandise.
Ice cream is another big draw, and coffee is available for a warm pick-me-up.
One thing you will not find is a big seating area. A few guests noticed there are no tables for enjoying treats inside, so plan to eat in the car, stroll the shopping center, or find a nearby park bench.
Families, gift shoppers, and sweet-toothed travelers all feel right at home here.
Hours, Prices, and Parking Tips
Timing your stop is easy, thanks to generous hours. Dewey’s on South Stratford Road opens at 8 am and closes at 9 pm Monday through Saturday.
Sunday hours are shorter, running from 11 am to 6 pm.
Those long weekday evenings are great for road-trippers. You can spend the day exploring Old Salem or driving the countryside and still swing by for dessert after dinner.
Most visits land in the ten to twenty dollar range per person, which covers a few cupcakes, a box of cheese straws, or a slice of sugar cake with coffee. Gift tins and custom cakes cost more, naturally, so budget accordingly if you plan to bring treats home.
Parking is the one thing regulars gripe about. The Thruway Shopping Center can get crowded, especially on weekends, so be patient and circle once if needed.
Arriving earlier in the morning usually helps.
Ordering online for pickup is an option too. If you do, double-check your pickup time when you arrive, and confirm packaging for delicate items.
A little planning makes the whole stop smooth, leaving more time for the scenic North Carolina miles ahead.
Worth the Detour This Autumn
Nearly a century of birthdays, holidays, and ordinary Tuesday treats live inside this little shop. That kind of history is hard to fake, and you can feel it the moment you walk in.
Dewey’s is not a fancy sit-down cafe. It is a cheerful, bustling bakery and gift shop with a long memory and a big heart.
The bakery has even raised over four million dollars for North Carolina schools, churches, and nonprofits through its fundraising programs, which says a lot about its bond with the community.
Not every visit will be flawless. Packaging and busy pickup times can test your patience now and then.
Still, the cheese straws, wafer-thin Moravian cookies, buttery sugar cake, and seasonal fall goodies make a strong case for stopping.
So here is the plan for this weekend. Point the car toward Winston-Salem, grab a box of cheese straws for the road, and pick up a sugar cake for Sunday breakfast.
Add a tin of Pumpkin Spice cookies for good measure. Then head out under orange and red leaves with the windows down and a sweet souvenir riding shotgun.