The Man Behind the Pie
Former Miami firefighter and Division-I football player, pie-lover, and dessert extraordinaire, Derek Kaplan, baked up our award-winning shop from scratch. Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop focuses on bringing big flavors and big smiles to all of our customers.
An integral part of the Miami community, Fireman Derek’s goods are made fresh daily to ensure the highest quality product. Our goal is to continue sharing the joys of baking with every customer, sweetening the memories for years to come.
Handcrafted, Fresh, and Homemade
Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop is a family owned South Florida based bakery specializing in pies, cakes, cheesecakes, cookies and one-of-a-kind desserts. We bake everything in-house, using fresh, locally-sourced, high-quality ingredients.
Former Miami firefighter and Division-I football player, pie-lover, and dessert extraordinaire, Derek Kaplan, baked up our award-winning shop from scratch. Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop focuses on bringing big flavors and big smiles to all of our customers.
An integral part of the Miami community, Fireman Derek’s goods are made fresh daily to ensure the highest quality product. Our goal is to continue sharing the joys of baking with every customer, sweetening the memories for years to come.
Handcrafted, Fresh, and Homemade
Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop is a family owned South Florida based bakery specializing in pies, cakes, cheesecakes, cookies and one-of-a-kind desserts. We bake everything in-house, using fresh, locally-sourced, high-quality ingredients.
How it all Began
A talented, self-taught baker with a passion for pie, Fireman Derek Kaplan is dedicated to spreading joy. After retiring from his firefighting career at the Miami Station 1 firehouse, Kaplan set out to tempt, tantalize and delight; which he continues to do with his two thriving storefronts in the Wynwood Arts District and Coconut Grove. No visit to the Magic City is complete without a pit stop at Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop!
Station 1 Miami Firefighter
During his firefighting days at Station 1 in Downtown Miami, Kaplan worked grueling, 24-hour shifts with only two days off in between. After showcasing a natural talent in the firehouse kitchen, he was drafted as the Station 1 cook providing breakfast, lunch and dinner for 20 firefighters, three days a week. Outside of his dessert repertoire, Kaplan cooked everything from Cuban staple dishes like Vaca Frita to pans of lasagna.
FROM FIREFIGHTER TO FULL-TIME BAKER
Soon after joining the department in 2006, Kaplan started baking to supplement his income; he utilized downtime to bake 25 to 30 pies a week, first out of his father’s apartment and, later, as demand for his pies grew, out of a number of Miami-based commissary kitchens. By 2016, after years of juggling both careers, Kaplan retired from the fire department to pursue baking full time.
Beginning of the Key Lime Pie
To make a little money on the side, at 15 years old, Derek Kaplan was squeezing limes by hand in his father’s apartment, perfecting the earliest rendition of what would become his wildly popular Key Lime Pie. Several years later – using the same recipe – he would go on to sell miniature-sized versions of his pie on the sidewalks of Miami’s historic Coconut Grove neighborhood.
Wynwood Shop Opens
In 2013, Kaplan decided to take the plunge and began searching for a cozy little nook to build his first pie shop. In one of Miami’s hippest neighborhoods, Wynwood, he found 600 square feet of vacant space jammed in between the Electric Pickle, a popular dance club and a barbershop. The grand opening of Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop in Wynwood took place July 2014 and it’s been a wild ride since.
Coconut Grove Shop Opens
In March 2019, Kaplan opened the Coconut Grove outpost of his bake shop, located on Main Highway, the bustling artery home to many of the neighborhood’s top restaurants and shops. The 36-seat bake shop — twice the size of the Wynwood flagship store — puts Kaplan’s confections on the forks of Grovites and South Miamians in the neighborhood where he currently resides.
How it all Began
A talented, self-taught baker with a passion for pie, Fireman Derek Kaplan is dedicated to spreading joy. After retiring from his firefighting career at the Miami Station 1 firehouse, Kaplan set out to tempt, tantalize and delight; which he continues to do with his two thriving storefronts in the Wynwood Arts District and Coconut Grove. No visit to the Magic City is complete without a pit stop at Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop!
1999 – Beginning of the Key Lime Pie
To make a little money on the side, at 15 years old, Derek Kaplan was squeezing limes by hand in his father’s apartment, perfecting the earliest rendition of what would become his wildly popular Key Lime Pie. Several years later – using the same recipe – he would go on to sell miniature-sized versions of his pie on the sidewalks of Miami’s historic Coconut Grove neighborhood.
2006 – Station 1 Miami Firefighter
During his firefighting days at Station 1 in Downtown Miami, Kaplan worked grueling, 24-hour shifts with only two days off in between. After showcasing a natural talent in the firehouse kitchen, he was drafted as the Station 1 cook providing breakfast, lunch and dinner for 20 firefighters, three days a week. Outside of his dessert repertoire, Kaplan cooked everything from Cuban staple dishes like Vaca Frita to pans of lasagna.
2013 – Wynwood Shop Opens
In 2013, Kaplan decided to take the plunge and began searching for a cozy little nook to build his first pie shop. In one of Miami’s hippest neighborhoods, Wynwood, he found 600 square feet of vacant space jammed in between the Electric Pickle, a popular dance club and a barbershop. The grand opening of Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop in Wynwood took place July 2014 and it’s been a wild ride since.
2016 – FROM FIREFIGHTER TO FULL-TIME BAKER
Soon after joining the department in 2006, Kaplan started baking to supplement his income; he utilized downtime to bake 25 to 30 pies a week, first out of his father’s apartment and, later, as demand for his pies grew, out of a number of Miami-based commissary kitchens. By 2016, after years of juggling both careers, Kaplan retired from the fire department to pursue baking full time.
2019 – Coconut Grove Shop Opens
In March 2019, Kaplan opened the Coconut Grove outpost of his bake shop, located on Main Highway, the bustling artery home to many of the neighborhood’s top restaurants and shops. The 36-seat bake shop — twice the size of the Wynwood flagship store — puts Kaplan’s confections on the forks of Grovites and South Miamians in the neighborhood where he currently resides.
Our Amazing Team
At Fireman Derek’s all of our employees have a hand in making people happy. In the kitchen or on the floor, it’s a collaborative effort that our team takes immense pride in. We strive to stay ahead of current trends, while still offering customers the classics that brought the shop to where it is today. Our talented staff loves a challenge and we bring the same level of service and detail to every treat served.
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