Village Bakery Has Closed, Owners Announce Today

To the shock and dismay of many Lawrence Township residents, The Village Bakery has gone out of business, closing its doors as of this morning (Tuesday, Nov. 27).

In a letter dated today and posted on the door of the bakery – on Gordon Avenue in the heart of historic Lawrenceville – owner Karen Child explains that the decision to close the business was a difficult one that was the result of losses brought about by Hurricane Sandy and the difficulties she and her husband Bo had in finding qualified staff to help run the bakery.

As Patch reader Marcia Willsie recounted, after Hurricane Sandy knocked out power to The Village Bakery Karen and Bo Child opened their doors to friends and neighbors and gave out all their perishables – cakes, pies, quiches, breads, and cheeses – for free.  

“By candlelight they poured into the bakery, grabbed a plate and helped themselves to the most sumptuous meal anyone could have hoped for on such a night – chef Karen Child's best, all for free. Husband Bo Child brought in fellow musicians who played some spirited bluegrass into the night as people visited with each other,” Willsie said in her email to Patch.

The full text of the letter Karen Child posted on the bakery’s door can be found below:

Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012

To All Our Friends and Patrons of The Village Bakery,

As of today, The Village Bakery is closed. It will not reopen under this management

After almost nine years of ownership, the decision to close was a difficult one. The loss we incurred from Sandy, plus the inability to hire qualified personnel to produce and sell our products over the past eight months drained all our resources. Without the necessary help and funds that we need to accomplish our jobs, it was determined that closing the bakery was our only option.

Our “Regulars” have made The Village Bakery their home-away-from-home, which is the finest compliment any owner could receive. Thank you all for your patronage and goodwill over the years.

Happy Holidays,

Karen P. Child, Owner/Pastry Chef

Please use the comments section below to tell us how you feel about the loss of The Village Bakery. Share your memories of the bakery and tell us what it meant to you and your family.