Closing down
Shoppers mourn end of Weston’s bargain bread outlet
Bargain hunters across Waterloo Region are mourning the impending closure of the Weston’s Bakery Outlet store in Kitchener.
The Victoria Street North store, long a source of cheap, surplus bread from the nearby Weston’s bakery, will close permanently later this month.
On Saturday, a steady stream of customers came to the store and bemoaned the loss of their source of buck-a-loaf bread they say is worth a half-hour drive or more.
The company said it’s closing all bakery outlet stores across the country as part of an effort to “simplify operations and focus on our core business.”
“I just think it’s shame it’s closing. I’m really sad,” said Helga Huras. “I come here lots. You can pay close to $4 for bread in the grocery store, and here it’s a dollar.”
A statement from the company said the store will close July 21, but a sign posted on the outlet’s front door said it will close July 14.
Longtime customers say the outlet was worth driving from others cities for the savings, which went well beyond bread to include cookies, drinks, school snacks and other foods.
Some schools and soup kitchens also used the outlet to buy in bulk without breaking the bank, they said.
Regulars seemed genuinely upset to learn of its closure.
“It’s totally worth the drive from Guelph,” said Jeanette McQueen, who drove half an hour to the store. “Their prices were phenomenal. I’m sad that it’s going.”
Rich Nelson, also from Guelph, came hoping to load his trunk with months’ worth of discounted bread.
“I was going to fill up my freezer,” he said. “My parents are away, so I was going to get some for them, too. It’s too bad.”
The outlet shop was originally opened as a place for the company to sell off its oversupply of bread.
But as its manufacturing facilities became more efficient, Weston’s was producing less and less extra bread, and started offering other food items.
It’s not known what the company’s immediate plans are for the property.