Very sad news on a local level!

[Timothy F. Lewis]

I know you have seen many of the pictures of the beautifully decorated cakes my family has enjoyed for almost fifty years but, I am sad to say that there will be no more. Boonzaaijer bakery just down the street is closing after 62 years. Their cookies, dinner rolls, cakes and cream pies shall not grace our tables after Christmas. The owner has been looking for a buyer for several years to no avail. They have gone from three very talented decorators to one and a half, cannot find anyone to put the hours in and take over.
Well, I seem to have gotten so sad that I’ve exceeded the maximum attachments but, you get the idea of the silly, fun creative things I’ve asked for in the last (12 years) posted here.
I've asked, THEY, imagined and, created some of the most memorable desserts for so many family celebrations I don’t know how we will “put the last touch on great feasts without them.
By way of thanks, I am going to smoke a pork butt for lunch for them before their last day.

 

[Joan]

How sad.

Thank goodness you have all those wonderful picture!!

 

[JKalchik]

The local bakery in town changed hands here 3 years ago, right before the virus hit. The owners wanted to retire, and sold to an employee, IIRC. Unfortunately, he just couldn't make a go of it, and less than a year ago, sold the location to a bakery about 25 miles away. Regrettably, none of the recipes or formulations went, there's no production here in town, it's just a store front for the parent bakery now. And in all honesty..... just not as good. It's the only bakery here in town and still preferable to anything else available for at least 15 miles.

So, for all of you who do have good local bakeries, patronize them. They may be gone before you know it.

 

[Rich Dahl]

Sorry to hear that, seems so many of the locally owned stores and shops just can't compete or want to move on and can't find a buyer. We have some here also that are struggling or trying to retire. So sad.

 

[Darryl - swazies]

I hate big box stores and to be honest it's is being played out so that is all that is going to exist in a short time........buy local and from mom and pop shops if you can.....I try my best.....

 

[Timothy F. Lewis]

I hate big box stores and to be honest it's is being played out so that is all that is going to exist in a short time........buy local and from mom and pop shops if you can.....I try my best.....

Amen!
The thing is these weren’t just fun they were unbelievably delicious, here’s a few more…

 

[JKalchik]

The gent who bought the local bakery really couldn't have bought at a worse time. The prior owners..... his knees were completely shot, and she was just getting burned out from counter service and running the business, they really did need to get out. They were good folks here in town.

Think global. Eat & drink local.

 

[Timothy F. Lewis]

The gent who bought the local bakery really couldn't have bought at a worse time. The prior owners..... his knees were completely shot, and she was just getting burned out from counter service and running the business, they really did need to get out. They were good folks here in town.

Think global. Eat & drink local.

The hours are ungodly, the costs are through the roof, anyone that thinks it’s easy has no clue! The same is happening with a small restaurant after 25 years, the labor costs, insurance, ingredients are killing small businesses, expenses have got to be overwhelming!
I fully agree, eat and drink with the little guys, corporate saloons and eateries have a terrible battle to fight. Help them whenever you can!

 

[Brett-EDH]

I fully agree, eat and drink with the little guys, corporate saloons and eateries have a terrible battle to fight. Help them whenever you can!

100% agree.

But we do patronize, very few chains, and on occasion, one is North Italia (las vegas location, specifically). https://www.northitalia.com/

their food is fresh and they have a lighter menu than just deep fried, heavy stuff. they're owned by The Cheesecake Factory, which we go to maybe once or twice a year (also in las vegas). their Godiva chocolate cheesecake is worthy. everything else is meh. my wife likes their caesar salad when we're travelling. otherwise my caesar is a hit with fam and company.