Residents on St. Paul's West Side got bad news this weekend when they learned that Jerabek's New Bohemian Bakery, a neighborhood institution for more than 100 years, was closing its doors for good on Sunday.
"Hard to think of the West Side without Jerabek's," wrote state Rep. Carlos Mariani on the bakery's Facebook page Saturday, echoing the sentiments of many as word of the closing began trickling out.
Owners Russell Spangler, Ronda Vincent and John Wills could not be reached for comment Monday to elaborate on their farewell note, which they had posted on Facebook, the day before the bakery closed.
"We cannot express in words the pain involved in the decision to suspend operations at Jerabek's," the note said. "Numerous physical, financial and emotional challenges have made us unable to properly lead and run the business. Our personal obligations and stresses have piled up to a breaking point that we need to address before we lose the things in our lives that are most important to us. …
"We feel shame and remorse that we are so sudden in our inability to continue to serve you, please understand that recent circumstances forced us to act quickly."
Responded one online customer: "No shame! You should be very proud! … Please know that you made our sweet moments even sweeter."
Jerabek's is the second century-old St. Paul independent business to close in recent weeks. Earlier this month, Linder's Garden Center announced it was going out of business after 103 years in the North End because of years of stagnant growth and setbacks sparked by last spring's wet and cold weather.
It's also the latest independent bakery in the metro area to close since last year, many falling victim to competition posed by less expensive and more convenient supermarket and chain bakeries, less demand for scratch-made products and expanding concerns about goods made with gluten.
