The Erath Legacy: A Father and Son’s Ingenuity Behind so many businesses
When you picture Granger’s early days, you might imagine fields, fruit stands, and dusty roads — but tucked right along 3498 South Redwood Road was a spot that offered so much more than a quick bite. It was here that Franz Erath, an enterprising immigrant from Germany, and his son Frank Erath built a family business that nourished both body and spirit.
Franz came to Salt Lake in 1867 and by 1879 had settled into the growing community. With true pioneer determination and a baker’s craft, he opened his first grocery and bakery business around 1890. For over a decade, his shelves and ovens turned out fresh loaves, cakes, and hearty staples for neighbors who came to trust the Erath name for honest quality.
In 1907, Franz founded the Superior Baking Company, which he operated until 1924 — delivering homemade bread and fresh baked goods that fed families all over the valley. But he didn’t stop there. With his son Frank by his side, they created something extra special for their corner of Granger: the Redwood Gardens Luncheonette and Soft Drink Inn at 3498 South Redwood Road.
This cozy diner became a local favorite. Passersby and neighborhood families could pull in for a fresh sandwich on homemade bread, a cold bottle of soda pop, an ice-cold beer, or the best frosted root beer in town — served with a smile under those charming gingham curtains. Sweet tooth? Franz and Frank made sure Redwood Gardens offered fresh-baked pies, penny candy, and their own Erath’s Ice Cream, scooped up for generations of local kids.
Together, the father-and-son duo ran Redwood Gardens like an extension of their own kitchen — neighbors were treated like family, and nothing went out the door that wasn’t fresh, honest, and delicious. Vintage cars filled the lot, children peeked into glass candy jars, and friends lingered over coffee and cake long after the plates were cleared.
When Frank Jr. passed away in 1943, he left behind more than a business — he left a legacy of family pride, good food, and warm memories. The Erath name reminds us that in early Granger, building a business wasn’t just about bread, ice cream, or sandwiches — it was about feeding the community’s heart and soul, one friendly serving at a time
Superior Baking Company
Redwood Gardens Luncheonette and Soft Drink Inn
Erath’s Ice Cream
A Sweet Gesture for Utah Soldiers — 1917
In December 1917, Frank Erath of the Superior Baking Company made headlines with a remarkable Christmas gift for Utah soldiers stationed at Camp Kearny. Wanting to ensure that the boys far from home had a taste of holiday comfort, Frank decided to bake a massive fruitcake big enough to give each of the 1,500 Utah boys at the camp a generous slice for Christmas dinner.
The bakers at Superior were already producing 13-ounce loaves of bread, sold wholesale for 8 cents and retail for 10 cents — which included wrapping and delivery. But this special cake required extraordinary effort. To bake it, Frank had to tear down part of the bakery’s ovens, because they simply weren’t large enough to hold such a gigantic pastry.
The final fruitcake measured an astounding 85 feet long, 3 feet high, and 3 feet wide, and weighed over 350 pounds. It was baked for more than twelve hours under the careful supervision of Frank’s brother, Amos Erath.
This act of holiday generosity was more than just a fruitcake — it was a reminder of home, a sweet slice of comfort for Utah boys spending Christmas far from their families. Frank Erath’s spirit of community, ingenuity, and caring for others truly made this moment one of the sweetest stories in Utah’s bakery history.