12/11/2024
THE BAKERY IS CLOSING
Dear Great Harvest Family,
After 17 years of kneading, baking, and filling your stomachs (and hearts) with warmth and joy, the time has come for us to say goodbye. Our ovens will be turned off, our rolling pins retired, and the wheat mill will get a deserved rest at 4 pm December 24th. It’s bittersweet, but the time has come to take on a new adventure—one that involves cows and, yes, a little less whole-wheat flour!
I’ll be trading in my apron for a cowboy hat as I help my brother-in-law with his ranch – Gypsum Hills in south-central Kansas. If you need some delicious beef or not, it is a beautiful website -- https://gypsumhills.com. I’m excited for this new chapter, but I’ll always carry the memories of our little bakery and all of you who’ve made it so special. I promise I’ll keep baking in spirit—and you can always find me on the ranch, wrangling cows (lol, not really---I will be helping with the legal and marketing ends of the business) with one hand and dreaming of cinnamon rolls with the other.
To all our loyal customers: who have been here since the opening day in February of 1992 with the Findlaters and later the Needys--thank you for 32 years of delicious memories, laughs, and of course, extra butter --- on your honey whole wheat, cinnamon burst swirl and even your pumpkin chocolate chip! I’ll miss seeing your familiar faces every day and hearing about your lives. We have celebrated our children's accomplishments, wept together when we lost loved ones (including our 4 four-legged ones), and laughed and danced about so many happy silly things. You, my amazing and beautiful customers, have made my life better. I can’t thank you all enough for your support and friendship which I will cherish forever.
I can’t leave this without a shout-out to my fantastic employees!! You have brought me so much happiness and I could not have done this bakery without you! A special thank you to my managers: Corey Hanson, James Lung, Jessica Jenkins, Zach Arnolfo, Liz Meyer, Julie Schomburg, and Vicki Caldwell.
So here’s to the end of an era, and new beginnings (and maybe a few more pies—just a different kind of pie). I am forever grateful to you all for making Great Harvest a home.
Please use your bread cards and gift cards by 4 pm on December 24th!
There is a bright spot at the end of the dreary missive – the Bread Chic will be taking the space with her delicious sourdough bread and café!!!
With love, flour, and a sprinkle of sugar,
Julie
Head Baker (soon-to-be Ranch Hand)
