Park Street's Boniere Bakery Shut Its Doors Friday

After five years under the current ownership and a rumored 75+ years of business prior, Park Street's Boniere Bakery will shut its doors today for the last time.

"I'm sorry we just can't do it," said owner Diane Jatczak. 

Rent on the landmark Park Street storefront is being raised $2,000 a month, says Jatczak, which is more than she and husband Andrew can afford. "The economy is so bad and we just can't do it," she said.

The family's history with the bakery is a long one. Andrew worked there as a baker in the '50s, and their son worked there some years later. The couple bought Boniere five years ago.

In the pastry-filled store today, the huge kitchen stretching out behind the U-shape of the display cases, there was no indication that today would be its last day in business—except perhaps the 50 percent off signs on cakes and cookies, and an already-vacated display case.

Informed that her favorite bakery would soon be no more, long-time customer Mechell Mack was disappointed and sad. "Oh dear," she said. "Oh dear. I got my daughter's wedding cake from here." 

A steady line of customers filed in to buy Friday afternoon treats and cookies. "Pick a cake," one mother said to her teenager daughter. "Which one looks good?"

"Hopefully we'll find a new location," said Jatczak. "There's something out there, I'm sure."

"And we're so grateful to all our customers, they've been very loyal," she said.