Swedish Bakery to Shut Down After 88 Years in Andersonville

CHICAGO, IL — A North Side food institution announced Thursday it's closing its doors for good after 88 years in business, and it's fitting that the final day of Andersonville's Swedish Bakery will be Feb. 28, Paczki Day.

"Changing times have dictated an honest evaluation of our business," the Stanton family, who has owned the bakery for 38 years, wrote on the bakery's Facebook page. "Based on that review, it is time to call a close and exit the stage. We have enjoyed a good run, but as Chaucer wrote, "all good things must come to an end'."

The bakery's aging customer base and its inability to appeal to Millennials were a few of the symptoms of those changing times that forced shutting down the business, Dennis Stanton, Swedish Bakery's operations officer, told the Chicago Tribune. Creating a "food experience" for a younger generation was not something that fit Swedish Bakery image, he said.

"We’re pretty humdrum. We’re just a bakery," Stanton added.

Being "just a bakery," however, was more than enough for residents of the Andersonville neighborhood since about 1929 (the exact year the bakery opened is still unclear; it was either '29 or '28). Swedish Bakery built its reputation on its Northern European and traditional American pastries and baked goods, and customers flocked to the 5348 N. Clark St. location for its popular Andersonville coffeecake, cardamom coffeecake and Swedish and butter cookies.

After the closing was announced, many customers shared their memories of the bakery on the business' Facebook page.

"I'm devastated to hear this, I grew up coming to your bakery occasion or not. From my first birthday to my children!" Anna Subhani Noman wrote. "The best part was how you recognized my father … every time we came despite the decades that had gone by."

"This is a great sadness for me," Ann-Marie Frisk stated. "Where will get our limpa, cardamom tea rolls, Andersonville coffeecake, or the best Swedish flop this side of the Atlantic? Say it ain't so!"

"This is so sad to hear!" Becca Wolfgang wrote. "My husband and I got married in October, and our beautiful kransekake was made and delivered by you … thank you for being part of my life (both growing up, and on the most special day)."

"Thank you Swedish bakery as you have been part of the memories of great childhood and family birthdays and special occasions," Zuany K. Geiger stated. "Can't think of a time when we lived in the neighborhood that you weren't the first choice. I wish you well and thank you!!!

After it opened and established by the Johnson family, Swedish Bakery was bought by Ernest Carlson in 1940. It was then sold to Gosta Bjuhr in 1964, and Marlies Stanton, who worked for Bjuhr for eight years, bought the bakery in 1979.

From the time of the purchase to 1991, all of the Stanton family members became employed at the bakery. Dennis Stanton, Marlies' son, told the Tribune his mother, who is 86, still stays involved with the day-to-day business, and he admits age is a factor in the decision.

“We’re all getting older here," he added.

While customers won't have the bakery to go to after Feb. 28, they might not have to go without their favorite coffeecake or pastry from the business. The Stantons are still deciding whether to sell the recipes that made Swedish Bakery popular, the Tribune reports.

Go to Swedish Bakery's website for more about its history or to its Facebook page for updates.

Swedish Bakery in Andersonville (photo via Google Earth)

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