Bittersweet: Beloved Titus Bakery in Saint John closing after nearly 76 years
Siblings want to retire, loyal customers are sad but wish them well
Doug Grant says he's already going into withdrawal even though his freezerisstuffed with dozens of hermit cookies from Titus Bakery in Saint John.
The family-owned uptown bakery is closing today after nearly 76 years. The family says it's time to hang up their aprons and retire.
"It's going to be such a loss," said Grant, of Belleisle Creek.
At least once a month for several years,he has driven nearly two hours return to stock up on the old-fashioned, chewy, spiced cookies.He buys 10 dozen at a time.
"Two hermit cookies and a coffee you don't need breakfast 'cause they're that good," Grant said.
"They're about this big,"he said, using his index fingers and thumbs to forma palm-sized circle,about an inch thick, "and they're a molasses-ginger with raisins. It's a full breakfast."
Grant has enjoyedTitus treats for 58 years, since he was four. His grandmother, who worked near the Prince Edward Street location, would walk him over for apple squares, raisin squares andhis favouritehermit cookies.
Although he has tried hermit cookies from numerous other bakeries, none have compared, he said.
"I can get a molasses cookie, I can get a ginger cookie, I can get a ginger snap,but I can't get it all in one cookie.
"There'swhere I get it," he said, gesturing over his shoulder at the Port City institution a small brick-faced storefront, tucked between the Saint John Community Food Basket and the Salvation Army, with a bright red door.
Granthoped to get the recipe but has already been turned down twice.
Recipes 'going in the vault' for now
All of the family recipes are "going in the vault" for now, saidJennifer Weagle, whose father, Theodore Raymond Titus, started the business in 1949, including a second location on King Street West, on the west side.
"There could potentially be an up and coming generation [currently in high school] that maybe would like to continue. So that's where they're going to go," she told CBC News on Tuesday, as a steady stream of customers stopped by to buy their final batches of beloved baked goods and to wish the family well.
The eldest, Sally Titus, 70, co-owns the business with the fourth sibling Anthony Titus and is "definitely ready" to retire, according toWeagle, the youngest and only family member willing to be interviewed. Her sister and brothertook over from their father around 1991, she said, but they've all worked there for years, along withsiblingsClara Graham and David Titus.
They had planned to close Friday but by Tuesday were running out of ingredients, andthe shelves were nearly empty.
The decision to close Wednesday instead was confirmed in a social media post around6:30 a.m.
"After 75 years in business today will be our final day as we are retiring," Titus Bakery announced on Facebook."Anyone with orders placed for tomorrow will have to come in today as we are out of ingredients."
Asked whether they've sold the business, or are planning to sell, Weaglesaid many customers have also inquired.
"But that's a question that I haven't even been given an answer to and I'm family. So as far as it goes that's up in the air," she said.
"It's like a death, really, when you lose your business, or when you've decided to retire. So all those things have to be taken in stride, all the things that have to change."
So while it's the end of Titus Bakery as people know it, it may not necessarily bethe end, Weagle suggested with a smile. "Maybe, just maybe."
Customers the priority
Sheattributes the family's long-running success, in part, to its popular cookies, such as the hermit, oatmeal and jubilee, or spice,and to thefreshness of the goods.
"We don't use any mixes. Nothing frozen, brought in pre-made," Weaglesaid.
"They're hand-cut and baked.We have no timers back there" in the kitchen. "Everything's just eyeballed."
But equally importantis customer service.
"I really think that the bottom line is you treat your customers with respect and honour, and you treat them as they're the most important person in the world," Weaglesaid.
Customers have taken time out of their busy day and gone out of their way to visit the small shop.
"If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't be here. So they're the priority," said Weagle,a lesson instilled by her "extremely loving and kind" parents.
'Great people, great food'
She fought back tears as she greeted regulars by name, acceptingcards, flowers, chocolates and hugs.
Arthur Crowley told her he's gong to miss her "almost as much as the bread."
Crowley has beenbuying from TitusBakery since he wasnine years old. "That's many years ago," he saidwithout revealing exactly how many but his head of white hair betraying him.
For the past 20 years, he has visited on a "steady basis," aboutthree times a week for the "great people, greatfood."
"When you're dealing with the Tituses,it'smore than a store," Crowley said. "It becomes like a family affair.
"They know everybody and everybody's welcome. So it'snot like going to a big store [where] nobody knows anybody [and] you're a number. It's a total loss to the community and a tremendous loss to me."
4 generations of customers
Abby Chenierheard about the closure from a friend and "couldn't believe it."
Four generations of Cheniers havefrequented the bakery.
"Very nice place. And the people were nice. Always joking, always having fun."
He started when he attended nearby St. Malachy'sHigh School and continued when he later worked at the fire hall up the street.
"I would come down for the bread for the sandwiches, very fresh.And another guy would take off to the [City] Market, get the cold cuts."
Chenier still visits twice a week, mostly for the bread. He said hejoked with the Tituses that he's going to show up on their last day with an old bread truck and buy 400 loaves. "Next week, I'll sell them for $10 a loaf. That's how good their bread is," he said.
His granddaughterJordyn describes loading upthe molasses brown bread with butter and polishing off a whole loaf in one sitting.
Chenier will also miss the blueberry Danishes. "I'll lose more weight if they close. I mean, I depend on those."
Felt like a part of the family
Dawn Durleyand sisterCrystal Kovensaid they have eaten "pretty much everything" thebakery offered, and"it's all been delicious."
They wentwith their parents as young girls and have taken their own children and grandchildren.
"We're going to really, really miss it," Durley saidas she finished signing a card and inserting some gift cards.
"We just wanted to let them know how happy we are for them, and bring them a little somethingand just to show how much we appreciated them."
Theyhavebeen a part of almost every family celebration over the years.
"Christmastime, we ordered from Titus's.If we're having a shower baby shower, wedding shower, wecame to Titus's and unfortunately even funerals, we would order from Titus's," Koven said. "So they've really been a part of every aspect of our life."
"It was almost like we were part of their family and they were part of ours. That's how we felt," Durleysaid. "And I'm sure they're like that with everybody, not just us.
"Their baking is, you know, out of this world, but more than anything, I think it's them being them. You know, it's a family tradition that their parents would be so proud."
Weagle, who has known some customers since she was a child,said they do feel like family and willbe fondly remembered.
"We're very thankful," she said. "Thankful is a big word and that's what we are - thankful with an exclamation mark."
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