Celebrating Paczki Day at Roeser's Bakery

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Mardi Gras is here, which means it's also Paczki Day in Chicago.

CBS 2's Asal Rezaei stopped by Roeser's Bakery, one of many Chicago bakeries serving up the delectable Polish pastries to celebrate the start of Lent.

Bakers have been busy all morning as a line of customers stretched out the door.

It's a big day for bakeries like Roeser's, with thousands of pazcki flying off the shelves, into boxes, and out the doors.

Paczki Day is a Polish tradition on Fat Tuesday, which features the indulgent baked goods for the day before Lent, when many indulgencies are restricted for 40 days.

Paczki are deep-fried pastries filled with fruit or cream, and covered in icing or powdered sugar.

Frank Buss got up at 4 a.m. to pick up 50 paczki for himself and his neighbors.

"We've got all varieties for opening my mouth and the neighbors. I've been doing it for them for the last I don't know how many years; for the whole block. You know, why not?" he said.

Roeser's Bakery, family owned since 1911, has been passed down to John Roeser from his great grandfather. It's a legacy and tradition he's happy to carry on.

"It runs in my blood. I've been doing this for my whole life. I started working here when I was 5 years old," he said.

From raspberry to chocolate, there's no shortage of fresh flavors at Roeser's, as a crew of at least 30 bakers has been making and packing up to 7,000 paczki ahead of the holiday.

"All for making people happy. All for continuing the tradition, and the legacy, and being a part of our community, being a staple in a community like we always have, and I take great great pride in that," John said.

Roeser's staff said, by midday on Mardi Gras, they've typically sold thousands of paczki, a number likely to climb as bakery doors will stay open until 6 p.m.