About Ludger’s
A history as sweet as our treats!
Ludger’s Bavarian Cakery is a family-owned bakery, cafe and coffeehouse established in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We are named after the man who started it all, Ludger (pronounced LEWD-gur) Schulz. With over 50 years of experience, Ludger’s has grown into a space for all your sweet and savory needs.
Our legacy began in 1964 when Ludger Schulz began his culinary apprenticeship in Münster, Germany. After gaining years of culinary experience in Sweden, Switzerland, Ireland, Canada, and the United States, Ludger opened his first restaurant in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Originally called the Shadow Mountain Inn, it eventually evolved into what was known as Ludger’s Restaurant. It was during this time that he began offering the famous Bavarian Cream Cheesecake for weddings and other special occasions.
In 2009, the bakery was passed down from Ludger and Alecia Schulz to their daughter and son-in-law Chris and Allison Dickens. Chris and Allison renamed the bakery and established the present-day Ludger’s Bavarian Cakery. As second-generation owners, the Dickens’ are dedicated to preserving the reputation for quality and excellence that the Ludger’s name has established in Tulsa and surrounding areas. The traditions that Ludger and Alecia created are baked into the heart of our mission:
To bring delicious, quality sweets and cafe style food to the community we are proud to call home.
The cakery is an evolution that began from a single dessert creation by Ludger Schulz in 1980. Ludger is the creator of the Bavarian Cream Cheesecake, a dessert reminiscent of his childhood in Germany. The Bavarian Cream Cheesecake was used as a dessert option at his restaurant and private catering events. Eventually, the popularity of the cake led to requests for birthday and wedding cakes.
With the Bavarian Cream Cheesecake at the soul of our bakery, our menu has expanded into a variety of flavors and styles to accommodate any special occasion. As the popularity of the cake grew, so did the business. The first retail location was opened in May of 2013 on the northeast corner of 91st and Yale. The cakery continued to grow and quickly outgrew the kitchen space at this location. In September 2017, an old Braum’s building at 91st and Sheridan became our new home. This location boasts a full coffeehouse, as well as cafe-style food options, in addition to our award-winning cakes. As second-generation owners, we are dedicated to preserving the quality and excellence that the Ludger’s name is known for, through our coffee, cafe, and baked goods.
Ludger’s is passionate about giving back to the local community to make a positive impact on the world around us. We recognize and support many charities, nonprofit agencies, and community programs throughout the area. In addition, we recognize the important role the military, veterans and their families play in our nation and want to honor these veterans in a special way. In an ongoing effort to recognize their service and sacrifice, we offer a 10% discount to military personnel.
If you are seeking a donation for a 501-c3 organization, below are the procedures and guidelines designed to assist you with submitting a donation request. As we attempt to accommodate as many charitable requests as possible, donation requests must be received at least 6 weeks prior to the date of your event. Since we receive multiple requests each day, please keep in mind that submitting an online request does not guarantee your organization will receive a donation.