Open Window may be closed for good
Even delivery truck drivers were surprised to find that Open Window Bakery, one of Toronto’s most venerable family-run bakeries, had suddenly closed its doors earlier this week. According to the CBC, trucks were still making their way to Open Window’s flagship on Finch Avenue Tuesday morning, but were unable to unload.
The company’s chief operating officer, Gail Agasi, told the Star that 2008’s economic downturn, plus changing customer habits, hurt the business. “As consumers started watching their pennies, they weren’t choosing our products,” she said. “It’s because we don’t compromise on quality. A lot of this stuff is still made by hand.” She was hopeful that outside investors would come in to save the day, but for now, all of the company’s employees—some of whom were with the company for over 30 years—are out of work.
Open Window was in business for over 50 years, selling European-style baked goods at such retail outlets as Longo’s and Highland farms, as well as smaller grocery and corner stores.
We hate to see the place go—a good rye is always nice to find—but prospects seem dismal. The Sun reports that the company is insolvent and owes hundreds of thousands of dollars.
• Open Window Bakery closes after 54 years [Toronto Star]
• Open Window Bakery shuts down [CBC]
• Open Window Bakery closed [Toronto Sun]
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/food/open-window-may-be-closed-for-good/&title=Open Window may be closed for good&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/open-window.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_53067" align="alignleft" width="320" caption="Challah at the Open Window Bakery (Image: grongar)"][/caption]
Even delivery truck drivers were surprised to find that Open Window Bakery, one of Toronto’s most venerable family-run bakeries, had suddenly closed its doors earlier this week. According to the CBC, trucks were still making their way to Open Window’s flagship on Finch Avenue Tuesday morning, but were unable to unload.
The company’s chief operating officer, Gail Agasi, told the Star that 2008’s economic downturn, plus changing customer habits, hurt the business. “As consumers started watching their pennies, they weren’t choosing our products,” she said. “It’s because we don’t compromise on quality. A lot of this stuff is still made by hand.” She was hopeful that outside investors would come in to save the day, but for now, all of the company’s employees—some of whom were with the company for over 30 years—are out of work.
Open Window was in business for over 50 years, selling European-style baked goods at such retail outlets as Longo’s and Highland farms, as well as smaller grocery and corner stores.
We hate to see the place go—a good rye is always nice to find—but prospects seem dismal. The Sun reports that the company is insolvent and owes hundreds of thousands of dollars.
• Open Window Bakery closes after 54 years [Toronto Star]
• Open Window Bakery shuts down [CBC]
• Open Window Bakery closed [Toronto Sun]){kind=link}
Its hard to read when something so great has to close its doors. especially in a city where ppl rather pay organic prices on a banana or pay stupid amounts on coffee but the thing that is most love they have forgotten. Being in the food industry myself seeing the good come and go bc peoples minds are easily hypnotized in a new trend.
You shall be missed, Keep a shutter open I am sure the smell of fresh bread will still be smelt.
How terrible! Where are we going to get blueberry buns now?
To qualify this comment. I feel very bad for any one who has to deal with losing
a job after to many years. Myself being one of them. Really, what is going to happen to the Double Dip Cake?
Anyone who has had the double dip chocolate cake will understand.
Very Concerned
RZ
Toronto has become a dump.
That is why OW is closing.
How much do they need to raise? Perhaps they should go public?
Part of the problem may have been competition in the bagel market which was a staple of their business. However you couldn’t find a better pumpernickle, rye, chocolate triangle or double dip cake.
It’s incredibly hard to run a family business with a 50+ year history into the ground.
But that’s exactly what happened here.
This is often the case when the children of the initial owners take control of an organization. They end up hiring their spouse, their family and they get caught up in a web of nepotism that shames the initial vision for the business.
Unbelievably poor management, greed and shady dealings are usually to blame.
That’s too bad. They used to have these cookies that I could never find anywhere else which were much LOVED! Toronto is so caught up with being too cool that these older businesses seem to have no chance of survival these days. So sad, and not just for the company but the workers as well.