I love a good bakery. I inherited that trait from my Mom. No offense to grocery stores that have in-store bakeries, but I mean real brick-and-mortar bakeries. You know. The kind where you step in, and it smells like vanilla ( and a bonus if there is a welcome tinkling bell when you open the door!)
There is nothing like the sparkling glass display cases showing off all the beautiful sweet sugar! I’m not sure I have a favorite because there isn’t a pastry I don’t like..lol. I can’t forget about the white bakery boxes. And if you’re in your late 50s like me, the twine they used to wrap the boxes with was the perfect added touch. Perfect for carrying your box!
Vintage bakeries seem far and few between these days, but there are a few that I still frequent. Those of you from Canfield, do you remember the 2 bakeries near the center of town in the 70s?
The Village Bake Shop was right next to the Value King grocery store in the old Village Square plaza. Mom and I always stopped there after grocery shopping. That bakery had it all..the bell, the smell, the cases, and twine. They also had a display of wedding cake toppers that were there as long as I can remember! Of course, Mom always let me pick out a treat, and I carried it in my own separate white bakery bag while she had a box of goodies for the rest of our family. When I was a little older, my best neighborhood friend’s oldest sister, Julie, worked there. I was obviously jealous of her job..lol
We also had Tieche’s Bakery, which was located near the laundromat. I remember this bakery being smaller than The Village Bake Shop, but for some reason I DO remember always getting a custard-filled donut. Were they famous for that kind? They were small, round, and very dense. I can still picture a grandma-looking, apron-clad lady icing a whole tray of them on the back counter and handing me a fresh one in waxed bakery paper. Mom allowed me to eat it in the car, and that was something special!
Of course, since I love bakeries and have many favorites, this subject needs to continue into another post. I have to reminisce about my Mom’s favorite bakery in Hamtramck, Sweetheart Bakery, the original Mr. Paul’s on Glenwood Ave. in Youngstown, and some of my new favorites! We are lucky that there are still a few around the area.
It’s not unusual that I’m now craving a big ole donut and some iced coffee right about now, is it?!
Kari
I love old-fashioned bakeries! We’re lucky to have so many good ones in the suburbs near us. I love stopping at one whenever we visit a town that’s new to us.
Canfield sounds so much like the town Crestline (Ohio) used to be when my mom was growing up. It’s nothing like that now, but your memories sound so much like the ones my mom has from her childhood. 🩷
myheartinpen
There’s nothing like them and there isn’t a donut I’ve never liked..lol We have 1 small bakery in Canfield now. Lots has changed here too, but it’s still pretty quaint.