Pantry 45 Café & Bakery: A must-stop on Highway 45

• Next time you’re on the lonesome Highway 45 stretch, pull over, get the blackberry roll and maybe some homemade jelly. You won’t regret it. 

There’s a stretch of Highway 45 just north of West Point where a welcoming wooden porch comes into view. Colorful chairs sit waiting for visitors, vibrant flowers spill from planters, and every time I see it, I’m reminded of the first time my family drove by several years ago.

One of my sons looked out the window and asked, “What’s over there?!”

It wasn’t a planned stop. We weren’t looking for lunch, a bakery, or a place to shop. We were simply curious, and with that, we turned into the parking lot. 

Isn’t it funny how one small decision can later become a tradition? 

My family makes the drive between Tupelo and Hattiesburg often; somewhere along the way, Pantry 45 Café & Bakery stopped being a place we discovered and became a place we look forward to. These days, we don’t ask if we’re stopping anymore. The only question is whether we’ll leave with one box of blackberry rolls…or two.

Walking through the front door feels a little like stepping into someone’s home. Before you even decide what to order, you’re greeted by the smell of fresh bread, cinnamon, butter, and coffee, and a smile. 

Then someone inevitably says, “That smells so good.”

They’re right, it does! 

We’ve eaten our way through a good portion of the menu over the years, and that’s one of the reasons we keep going back. The sandwiches are piled onto homemade sourdough bread, flaky croissants, or whole-wheat buns, the soups taste like they were made that morning, and everything has that unmistakable homemade quality that’s becoming harder to find.

Nothing feels rushed or overcomplicated. It’s simply good food made well.

And then there’s the bakery.

If you’ve never tried Pantry 45’s blackberry rolls, let me offer one piece of advice: don’t buy just one.

The blackberry filling is sweet without overpowering the pastry, the dough is light and buttery, and the glaze is just enough to make you reach for another bite before you’ve finished the first. They’re the kind of treat you intend to save for later, but somehow they disappear somewhere between West Point and Tupelo. Oops. 

The cinnamon rolls and caramel nut rolls deserve plenty of attention, too, but our family has become loyal to those blackberry rolls.

After you’ve ordered lunch, don’t rush back to your table.

Walk the store—that’s honestly half the experience.

Every visit, I notice something different. One trip it’s the shelves of Amish-made jams and jellies. The next it’s local honey or a bag of freshly roasted coffee. I’ve left with maple syrup, pickles, baking mixes, gifts, and more than one item that absolutely wasn’t on my shopping list when I walked in.

It happens every single time, without fail. 

And if the famous okra chips are in stock, grab a bag while you can. There’s a reason people ask about them.

One section I always appreciate is the freezer filled with homemade casseroles. Life gets busy, and having dinner already taken care of for another night feels like finding money in the pocket of an old jacket. Pop it in the oven, add a simple salad, and supper is practically done.

Of course, Pantry 45 is more than sandwiches and bakery boxes.

The business began with Richard and Judy Nightingale, who opened a small pantry on their farm after Richard’s cancer diagnosis ended his trucking career. What started as a modest store selling bulk foods, deli meats, cheeses, fabrics, gifts, and Amish-made products eventually grew into the beautiful café and market that welcomes visitors today. Following Richard’s passing in 2010, the family expanded the business while holding onto the values that inspired it in the first place.

You can feel that history as soon as you walk inside, without anyone having to tell you about it. 

In a world where so many places feel the same, Pantry 45 still feels personal, and everything is done with care and intention. 

Every family has a stop that quietly becomes part of their travels. Pantry 45 is one of ours, and I know it is for many, many others as well. So, next time you’re on the lonesome Highway 45 stretch, pull over, get the blackberry roll and maybe some homemade jelly. You won’t regret it.