By Bruce Karnick

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The Pitz Bakery came to downtown Hastings sometime in 1906. The Pitz family owned three bakeries at the time. That stayed in the Pitz family until 1946 when they sold it to a couple in Hastings. That couple in turn sold it again in 1948 to their inlaws Elmer and Emily Walker. This is where it became part of the family that has been running it for nearly 75 years.

The elder Walkers sold it to their son William “Buzz” Walker and his wife Sharon in 1964. That is when the bakery moved to its current location in the Midtown Shopping Center and renamed it Emily’s bakery to honor their mother who had been a huge part of the success of the bakery. The second generation of Walkers kept the bakery until 1980 when they sold it to their sister and her husband, Peggy and Gene Fuchs. Peggy and Gene then sold it to their kids Norine Bishop and Steve Fox have in 1988.

Working that forward is far more confusing than backwards. Norine and Steve, the current co-owners are the children of Peggy and Gene. Peggy is Buzz Walker’s sister, Peggy and Buzz are the children of Emily and Elmer which makes Norine and Steve the grand children of Emily and Elmer.

Bishop did not work for her parents until 1985 which is when they opened a deli in the Masonic Building across the street from the Hastings Police Department. The Old Tavern Deli was located in what is now Sullivan Law Office. She worked in the deli for only a summer when she came home from college. The Deli stayed downtown for three years then it took over the spot of the coffee bar.

In 1988, Fox and Bishop became the owners of the Bakery and Deli. In 1991, the shoe store next to them closed and they expanded into that space. The deli side is the original side of the business, and the bakery side is the newer side. It has been in its current configuration for 30 years.

Being the third-generation owners of a business that has been in the family for 73 years comes with many layers of things associated with it. There is a pride in Bishops eyes as she recounted the family members that have been involved and there is a huge disappointment in knowing they are the ones closing the business. The decision to do so was one her and her brother did not make lightly.

Their closing announcement on social media elicited over 650 responses and more than 1100 shares.

“I’m amazed at the places I go where people know about us. I can go to Duluth and run in to people that ask, ‘what do you do for a living?’ oh, I run Emily’s Bakery. *gasp* You DOOOO?” laughed Bishop.

It seems as though everyone in Hastings and many from outside of Hastings, has at least one memory involving Emily’s Bakery, so it is breaking the hearts of many in the community. The closing is not a financial or sales issue, they are extremely busy, in fact, they are killing it. They are having a great year. They even had a buyer lined up in March, but that fell through.

So why close? It’s a culmination of things. The two owners and the head baker are ready to retire from the baking industry. Not retire completely, just get out of baking. 30 years of the odd hours they have to keep is a long time.

They need help, qualified, experienced help. Fox is one of the head bakers, the other has being trying to retire and join his wife down south where she transferred for work over a year ago. They are also short 8-10 hourly staff members.

The deciding factor on doing it now is, their lease on their space is up at the end of November.

Is the bakery for sale? Short answer, yes. Long answer, yes, but it will take the right person to buy it. Commercial baking is drastically different than baking a couple dozen cookies at home. It takes years of training. If the right buyer came in with the right offer, Bishop and Fox would be open to negotiate with them for a transition period. That still means the new owner would need to hire at least eight people and applications have been non-existent for months. The lack of applications is not just at Emily’s, its all over the place. Pizza Hut, Holiday, and everywhere in between.

Originally, they planned on being open until November 27, that has been cut short a week to November 20. This is due to the overwhelming support they have received since the announcement came out. They have been lined out the door from nearly open to close. Bishop’s demeanor when she sat down for the interview said everything. She had not sat down since she started her shift early in the morning and it was 3:30 p.m. when the interview took place.

“We’re overwhelmed, overwhelmed with the response within minutes after I posted on Facebook, my phone was just vibrating. I mean, I’m not kidding. I was at a meeting and my phone, I had it on silent and it was vibrating all over. Text messages to me and emails to the business and just all the response on Facebook and social media has been unbelievable. And then all the outpouring of people coming in here the last couple of days, and I know that’s going to continue. I honestly don’t know how we can keep up with the demand here. So I don’t know what will happen. It’s not that we don’t want to and it’s not that we don’t appreciate and love all of these people because we do, and people have been fabulous. So supportive and yet understanding as well. I think that’s the thing that has really, really hit me is how understanding everybody has been about it, and really just thanking us,” explained Bishop.

Her concern moved to supplies and stock levels. Her plan was to shut the Deli side down first and during the interview that was slated to happen around the time this story was going to hit your mailbox. It’s already happened. She has moved deli staff to the bakery side to focus on that. The are shutting down a week earlier than planned and had to adjust their hours to allow more prep time for the employees they have.

By the time this is out, don’t be surprised if they have scaled back the variety of products for sale. There is a balance that has to take place to not waste product once the doors are locked for good on November 20.

Bishop’s main message for the patrons of Emily’s over the years. Thank you! Thank you for all the support, thank you for the overwhelming response, thank you for understanding and thank you for having Emily’s and their staff be part of your story and you part of theirs.

This transition is not easy for anyone, Hastings struggles to let go of things they hold dear, but for the current ownership, the time is right to let Emily’s Bakery join the likes of Midtown Foods, Loesch’s Bar, Friar Tucks, The Buccaneer, Fran’s Barber Shop and so many other wonderful businesses.

Is it sad? Absolutely! Does this reporter hope someone swoops in and saves the day? You betcha! My favorite doughnut is the chocolate raised followed by the maple then the cinnamon twist. My 19-year-old son loves the cookies and he and my 21-year-old daughter both love the white sprinkled doughnuts. My parents love the long johns, everyone in Hastings has their favorite Emily’s doughnut, it does not matter who you are.

All great things must come to an end, the best we can do is help them go out with dignity and they are going out on top. Be kind when you visit Emily’s, they are working their tails off all day long, they are exhausted, doing their best, and they will soon run out of your favorite treat, for good.

Emily’s announced a new schedule for the remainder of their two weeks left. They are closing their doors a week earlier than planned and have had to close an additional day for prep due to the overwhelming response and support after announcing their closing. Photo from Emily’s Facebook Page.