4 hours ago
3
Toronto·New
There aren't excessively galore businesses successful the metropolis that tin accidental they've been unfastened for 80 years — but Harbord Bakery successful the Annex is 1 of them. The bakery opened successful 1945, and it has remained a household tally concern since.
4 generations of Susan Wisniewski's household person tally the Annex bakery, which opened successful 1945
Talia Ricci · CBC News
· Posted: Jun 20, 2025 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 3 minutes ago
Toronto bakery celebrates 80 years of business
There aren't excessively galore businesses successful the metropolis that tin accidental they've been unfastened for 80 years — but Harbord Bakery successful the Annex is 1 of them.
The bakery opened successful 1945, and it has remained a household tally concern since.
"There are so galore memories," said proprietor Susan Wisniewski, who lived supra the bakery increasing up.
"As a small girl, I sat successful my stroller extracurricular of the bakery and people greeted me," she said.
It was Wisniewski's parents, Goldie and Albert Kosower, who established the Toronto landmark. Her grandson now works weekends astatine the bakery, marking the 4th procreation of the household to beryllium involved.
What keeps Wisniewski moving six days a week astatine the property of 76, she says, is her emotion of the customers.
"A batch of times radical travel and say, 'I utilized to travel present with my dada erstwhile I was a small person' [or] 'Your ma utilized to springiness maine the sprinkle cookies,'" she said.
She's seen generations of customers turn up.
LISTEN | Wisniewski talks astir however the bakery's large day is being celebrated: Here and Now Toronto7:07Harbord Bakery celebrates 80 years
This month, Harbord Bakery turns 80 years old. It's been a fixture successful the Annex neighbourhood for decades, selling cakes, challah, pastries and freshly made luncheon items. It's known to person agelong lineups astir Jewish holidays.
"Because they've been present for truthful long, with a bully cognition and that assemblage sense, they've go an anchor successful the area," said Neil Wright, seat of the Harbord Street BIA. He said it's important to maintain long-standing, locally owned businesses successful neighbourhoods to marque communities consciousness harmless and welcome.
Keeping the concern going done operation and rising prices has been tough, Wisniewski says, but with the assistance of her family, the extremity is to support the bakery unfastened for galore years to come.
"My household is my archetypal love, and this bakery is my 2nd love," she said.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Talia Ricci is simply a TV, vigor and web newsman astatine CBC Toronto. She enjoys covering offbeat quality involvement stories and exposing societal justness issues. Talia is besides an avid traveller and photographer. Her photography has appeared successful assorted publications and exhibits. She lives successful Toronto's westbound extremity wherever she enjoys speechmaking and going connected agelong walks to observe the quality successful the city.
English (US) ·