Lyndell's Bakery facts for kids
Lyndell's Bakery is a famous bakery located in Ball Square in Somerville, Massachusetts. It's known for being a classic American bakery, which is quite special in New England. In December 2007, the bakery celebrated being open for 120 years!
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Who Owned Lyndell's Bakery?
The First Owners
Lyndell's Bakery first opened its doors in 1887. The original owner's name was not known for a long time. However, it was later discovered that a man named Birger C. Lyndell was connected to the bakery. He was born in Sweden in 1866 and moved to the United States in 1880.
New Owners Over Time
Over the years, Lyndell's Bakery has had several owners.
- In 1934, Eugene Klemm bought the bakery. He added some German-style recipes to their delicious treats.
- Then, in 1968, Herman and Janet Kett took over the business.
- In 2000, Gary Bagarella and Bill Galatis became the new owners. Later that year, Bill Galatis bought out Gary Bagarella's share.
What Does Lyndell's Bakery Make?
Lyndell's Bakery makes everything fresh from scratch every single day. This means they bake all their goodies right there in the bakery!
Special Treats and Donations
They are very good at cake decorating, making beautiful custom cakes for special events. People who have moved far away, even to places like Georgia, still call to order their famous honeycomb bread. It's a very popular item! Any leftover baked goods at the end of the day are donated to the Little Sisters of the Poor. This helps make sure nothing goes to waste.
Changes and Traditions at Lyndell's
When Bill Galatis became the main owner in 2000, some customers worried he might change too much. But Bill quickly learned that the bakery's classic recipes and traditions were what made it so special.
Keeping Old Favorites
He decided to keep many of the things that customers loved. This included the original recipes, the custom-decorated sheet cakes, and even the old-fashioned sign outside the store. These things help keep the bakery feeling like a beloved local spot.
New Ideas for the Bakery
Bill did make a few changes that helped the bakery grow.
- During World War II, the bakery stopped opening on Sundays. Bill brought back Sunday hours, and now Sunday is one of their busiest days!
- He also started selling cream-filled pastries again during the summer months.
Expanding to Other Cities
Lyndell's Bakery also tried opening new locations for a while.
- They opened a store in Cambridge in 2010, but it closed in 2013.
- Another location opened in Boston's North End in 2009, which closed in 2011.
