Great Buns Bakery: Baking Doughs of Delights Since 1982

Some bakeries are just part of the neighborhood. Others, like Great Buns Bakery, become part of the city’s story. With rows of fresh bread, sweet pastries, and handmade pasta, this family-run spot has been filling ovens and hearts for decades!

Paving The Flour-Dusted Road To Today’s Legacy

Great Buns Bakery began in 1982, started by Tony Madonia Sr. after moving from upstate New York. He came from a long line of bakers dating back to Italy, where bread was more than food—it was family. Tony Sr. opened the original bakery with his wife, Linda, and his father, Augie Madonia.

Over time, the business moved to a larger space near Tropicana Avenue and Pecos Road, where it still operates today. Now, the family legacy continues with Tony’s wife Lynn, son Tony Jr., and niece Deborah Morelli.

Each member is deeply involved in daily operations, helping to grow the bakery while staying true to its roots. Their work reflects decades of skill and care, which carry naturally into the customer experience.

Grab a Bag, Pick Your Favorites

Walking into Great Buns Bakery feels simple and familiar. Customers grab a bag or a plate, then use tongs to choose their breads or sweets. There’s no counter to wait at, and no pressure to move quickly. You wander the space at your own pace, reading shelves and stacking your picks.

“You know you’re at Great Buns Bakery when you smell the strong scents of bread, desserts, and all the sweet things this place makes. It’s like walking into a love letter to baking!”

The layout invites you to explore, from bread racks to pastry cases and cold sections. It’s a self-serve experience that works because everything is clearly marked and thoughtfully arranged. Regulars know their routine, while first-timers usually end up finding something new to try.

This relaxed style of shopping flows right into the impressive selection of fresh breads nearby.

Bread for Every Table and Taste

The bread selection at Great Buns Bakery is massive and made fresh every day. You’ll find everything from cheesy jalepeño bagels to braided challah and multigrain boules. Their French dinner rolls and Italian loaves are popular, but so are their more unique blends like cranberry walnut, white chocolate pecan, and marble rye.

“My girlfriend absolutely loves the baguettini. They’re essentially a sesame breadstick that’s fluffy, light, and full of flavor, something that just isn’t offered in most restaurants.”

For those who want something more traditional, classic sandwich breads, rustic rounds, and dinner rolls in every shape and flavor fill the shelves. There’s a focus on variety without losing the quality in each bake.

Whether you like soft wheat, sourdough, or thick-sliced pumpernickel, you’ll find something that hits the mark. That attention to variety doesn’t stop with bread—it continues into the sweeter options next to it.

The Sweet Section You Can’t Skip

The sweet section at Great Buns Bakery is stacked with everything from cinnamon rolls to chocolate éclairs. Cookies of all kinds are boxed and ready, including chocolate chip, macaroons, and traditional Italian varieties.

You’ll also see tarts, pecan sticky buns, croissants, danishes, and brownies filling the cases. Each item looks made by hand, not just made to sell.

“The chocolate chip cookie and brownie with nuts are a must for anyone. I paired my heated brownie with some cold ice cream at home to create the best sundae dessert dish ever!”

The bakery also stocks seasonal pies and cakes, keeping holiday favorites close to heart. Even if you don’t plan to get something sweet, it’s tough to leave without at least one pastry in your bag.

Once you’ve seen the dessert and cake case, your eyes are naturally drawn toward the cold section a few steps away.

Pastas That Honor Italian Roots

In a small fridge near the register, Great Buns Bakery keeps freshly made pastas you can take home. It’s a quiet nod to their Italian heritage, offering dishes like gnocchi, manicotti, and other comforting options. The pastas are house-made and ready to cook, making it easy to put together a solid meal.

These options might not be the bakery’s main feature, but they reflect the same attention to detail. If you’re grabbing a loaf for dinner, adding a tray of pasta just makes sense. That blend of bakery and kitchen shows how much work happens behind the scenes to keep everything running.

More Than a Bakery—A Working Factory

While the storefront is cozy and simple, the back of Great Buns Bakery is a different story. This is a full production facility, with commercial ovens and equipment designed for high-volume baking.

They produce and supply bread to restaurants, caterers, and grocery stores across Las Vegas. It’s a year-round operation that still manages to feel personal.

Customers can also place large orders or catering requests, which are handled with the same care as a single bag of rolls. The scale of the bakery might be big, but the mindset remains local and focused. This balance of quantity and quality is what sets the bakery apart day after day.

One Visit, One Full Bag of Breads

It doesn’t take much to enjoy Great Buns Bakery. A few minutes walking through the aisles is usually enough to find something worth trying. There’s no hard sell, no gimmicks—just bread, sweets, and pasta made by people who care.

The bakery’s story is still unfolding, one loaf at a time. If you’re nearby, step inside and see what’s baking. You might leave with a bag full of favorites or a new discovery for your table.