local flavor Weinegars

Old-School American Baking with British Flair

By Rena Malai / Photography by Mark Gilvey

As a saying goes, there is practically nothing that makes a bad day better than a big slice of cake. Whether this is true or not (it’s probably true), baked goods are a part of the American fabric of life marking celebrations, special events, after-school treats, and dressing up many a coffee table for dessert hungry dinner guests.

Pamela Weinbender, co-owner of Weinegar’s, along with her mother Heather, brother Parker, and best friend Aleah, brings the vibe of an old-school American bakery with a sprinkling of an English tea room right to Manassas. It’s a place that serves up homemade family — recipe inspired cakes and bars, pies and pastries in a setting that’s both comfortable and nostalgic.

Sweets and Treats

A graduate of the Culinary Institute of Virginia, Weinbender was diagnosed with a reading comprehension disability when she was in the third grade. It never held her back. Rather, it pushed her to go after what she loved — baking.

“You would never know about it unless I said something,” Weinbender said. “My mom always said that since I was 5 years old, if I set my mind on something, I get it.”

Weinbender comes from a long line of family bakers. Throughout high school, she enjoyed making cookies and cakes at home. In fact, the red velvet cake served at Weinegar’s is an old family recipe, still made traditionally and unchanged.

“If I was going to do something for the rest of my life, I knew it had to be something I loved,” she said. “Baking is an exact science.”

A Chicago native, Weinbender immediately noticed there was a need in Prince William for the the kinds of bars and great homemade baked goods she craved from her time in Chicago. She worked on convincing her mom to open a bakery with her. Eventually, the answer was yes.

Weinegar’s host teas on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

“We’re just a great, old-school bakery where you can get things like brownies, lemon bars, cinnamon rolls, and an assortment of coffee cakes and pies,” said Weinbender. “Everything is made fresh in house. Our brownies and cinnamon rolls are some of our biggest sellers. And I can’t keep our cupcakes on the shelves.”

Weinegar’s also serves breakfast and lunch, offering made-to-order omelets, sandwiches, crepes, and soup and salads.

Some of Weinbender’s favorite items on the menu are the Dutch baby — a type of puffy skillet-cooked pancake — and the crepes, which come with a choice of savory or sweet fillings.

Also on offer is the Friday Night Dinner, featuring a chef’s choice home-cooked main meal, sides, and dessert prepared for pick up or delivery.

“We started Friday Night Dinner during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was so popular, we’re offering it now on a regular basis,” Weinbender said.

Weinegar’s offers made-to-order cakes in a variety of sizes. Call or text 571-991-9877 to place a custom order.

High Tea

Weinbender was inspired by her high tea experience as a child, when her grandfather took her to a tea room. She always wanted to bring that experience to others once she knew she’d have a place of her own.

“My grandpa took me to a little tea place in Gloucester, Virginia, and I remember everything,” she said. “Ever since then, I knew if I had a bakery, I wanted a tea room with it too.”

Her grandfather gifted her with her own china tea set not long after that first tea room visit, and told her she’d find a use for it one day.

“I think he knew way before I did,” she said.

At Weinegar’s, high tea goers can indulge in an array of assorted finger sandwiches and desserts with scones or coffee cake, alongside salad and soup.

Also offered is a breakfast tea option, served with the same ambience as high tea and a choice of breakfast items like crepes, yogurt parfaits, and Weinegar’s signature tea house toast with apples and cinnamon.

“If you like a quiet atmosphere and enjoy tea and desserts, we’re the right place,” Weinbender said. “You don’t have to dress up for our high tea. Come as you are.”

Just prior to publishing, PWL learned Weinegars will be closing their storefront and shifting to a delivery and farmers market model. Visit their Facebook page to learn more.

Rena Malai is a freelance writer and has covered everything from food, to tech, and politics. She lives in Prince William.