Sweets to roll

Popular Oakmont Bakery plans move and expansion

When Marc Serrao took over a little bakery tucked inside half of the old Hallmark Store on Allegheny River Boulevard in Oakmont 30 years ago, it quickly became a neighborhood hit.

That necessitated a move to a Allegheny Avenue, or the “lower boulevard” as it’s known to locals, to a larger space. That wasn’t enough, so Mr. Serrao purchased the building next door, too, and expanded across a strip of a parking lot into that building.

“I never, ever thought we would move again,” he said. “I thought that was it.”

Perhaps the third time will be the charm.

Mr. Serrao needs to move once again because his Oakmont Bakery has gone from being the best-kept secret in the quaint town about 20 minutes up Route 28 from Pittsburgh to one of the most popular bakeries in Western Pennsylvania.

Plans are moving forward to relocate the bakery, a pillar of the tightknit community, to a prime location near the end of the Hulton Bridge entering Oakmont, where about 22,000 cars pass by each day. The site is across Third Street from Riverview Junior-Senior High School.

The new building is expected to open in September or October.

In addition to more seating, more parking and more space, plans call for the new location to offer live demonstrations so that customers can see the baked goods being made.

The bakery produces an array of breads, bagels and sweets that await customers in display cases that wrap along the sales area.

The aroma of fresh-baked treats and ground coffee fill the air as the everpresent customers point to their favorites while placing orders.

Mr. Serrao owns the land where the bakery plans to relocate, which held a karate studio, dance studio, tanning salon, tire center and two homes. For years, the businesses and residents knew of his plan to relocate the bakery, and as the leases ran out, they relocated to make room.

The subdivision application has been approved by borough council, and demolition at the site could begin in late February or early March, provided plans continue to move forward as anticipated.

“I know that Marc does it right,” said Joe Killian, an Oakmont resident for the past 27 years and a regular at the