Edgewood Bakery closes doors; French Pantry to move in

Edgewood Bakery closes doors; French Pantry to move in
The handwritten sign says it all. A nearly 70-year-old neighborhood institution has shut its doors.

Just one year shy of celebrating 70 years in business, the Edgewood Bakery is closing its doors for good. There is no chance, either, for a purchase and re-opening under the same name as Stache Investments sold the property, after very short negotiations, to local restaurant entrepreneur John Valentino.

Valentino, who owns Mellow Mushroom and Burrito Gallery, has plans to convert the bakery to a second French Pantry. He owns the original on Powers Avenue, having purchased it in 2015 after he was approached by owners Tim and Barbara Felver, who operated the French Pantry for 20 years.

A statement by Stache Investments noted the bakery business is shifting from standalone bakeries, to purchases made at grocery stores, convenience stores and coffee shops. Valentino believes that putting a French Pantry at that location will give fans of Edgewood Bakery and residents of Murray Hill a “unique and extraordinary experience.”

The new French Pantry will not be a mirror image of the first restaurant, but a spokesperson for Valentino’s company stated it was too early to know at this point what the differences will be. Design Cooperative, which designed Mellow Mushroom in Avondale and the new Burrito Gallery in Brooklyn-Riverside, will also be involved in this latest of Valentino’s projects, said Leah Miller, of the Legacy Restaurant Group.

The Powers Avenue location is currently open only for lunch, but the Edgewood Avenue location will be open for brunch and dinner.

Although Murray Hill resident Chris Boivin said he was sad to see the bakery close, he is looking forward to the French Pantry, which is just one of several new businesses opening in the historic neighborhood.

Grater Goods, a cheese shop specializing in artisanal and farmstead cheeses and charcuterie, recently opened at the former location of Swimming Yesterday, 1080 S. Edgewood Ave. Andrea Dahlia’s new restaurant and bar, Magnolia’s Pub, will open later this year. The 4,000-square-foot pub, specializing in waffle-based dishes, will serve dinner and late-night fare during the week, with brunch service added on the weekends.


By Kate A. Hallock
Resident Community News

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