Legacy Home of ‘Blue Ribbon Baker’ Marjorie Johnson for Sale

The iconic home of Marjorie Johnson, the renowned baker, is now on the market. The house, built in 1968 and located in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, is described as a “time capsule” due to its original fixtures and custom kitchen, all preserved with care for over fifty years.

Marjorie Johnson, who passed away at 106, began her competitive baking journey at 55. Her debut at the 1974 Minnesota State Fair saw her winning three out of four entries. Over her lifetime, she won over 3,000 ribbons in state and county fairs. She became a national sensation as the “Blue Ribbon Baker,” frequently appearing on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” Rosie O’Donnell penned the foreword to her cookbook, “The Road to Blue Ribbon Baking: With Marjorie.” In her honor, the Minnesota State Fair now offers the Marjorie Johnson Honey Bee Award for the best honey sweet rolls.

Johnson’s Robbinsdale home, on sale for the first time, reflects her personal choices. “My mom’s dream house,” said her daughter Marleen Stromme. She shared with the media how her mother chose every detail in the 5100-square-foot lakefront property.

The house features six bedrooms, four bathrooms, an indoor pool, and 70 feet of Crystal Lake shoreline. Unique touches include a powder-blue kitchen adjusted to Johnson’s height and filled with cabinets for her baking tools. Despite her 4 feet, 9 inches stature, Johnson meticulously designed the space.

Extra amenities include a second kitchen, a family room, a two-car garage, and a three-season room overlooking the lake. The home retains vintage features such as shag carpeting, floral wallpaper, pink bathroom tiles, and a built-in record player. Jeanne LeVasseur, the listing agent, noted, “The chrome just shines, and there are no cracks in the tile.” She emphasized that all fixtures remain functional.

Johnson’s legacy extends beyond baking. Her energetic spirit and philosophy of positivity inspired many. She once shared, “Everybody who wants to live and feel good, and not die in their 60s and 70s and 80s, they have to think positive.” The house, listed at $665,000, has attracted several offers. Her daughter Marilee Wheaton hopes to find a new owner who cherishes the home as much as her mother did. “The whole house was filled with love. It was filled with smells of all that baking,” Wheaton remarked.