DEPEW, N.Y. (WKBW) — Chrusciki Bakery announced on social media Monday that it will close its Depew location inside the Delavan Hotel on May 31, after 40 years in business.
In a Facebook post, the bakery said:
"After 40 incredible years, a new chapter begins.
Sunday, May 31st will be our final day open for retail at Chrusciki Bakery.
For four decades, you allowed us to be part of your birthdays, weddings, holidays, Sunday mornings, family traditions, and so many moments in between. We are beyond grateful for every customer, employee, friend, and family member who walked through our doors and supported us throughout the years.
As bittersweet as this moment is, we choose to look at it with gratitude, pride, and excitement for new beginnings ahead.
We would love to see you one more time this week. Stop in for your favorites, say hello, share a memory, and help us celebrate 40 beautiful years together. We’ll also be sharing some love back with free swag and special memories throughout the week while supplies last.
Thank you, Buffalo, for 40 unforgettable years."
Owner and President Ania Duchon told 7 News on Tuesday that the bakery's final day will be May 31.
"It's always been very, very much family orientated," Duchon said.
The bakery originally opened inside the Broadway Market in the late 1980s after Duchon's parents, Hannah and Teddy, emigrated from Poland to Buffalo and brought their family traditions with them.
"It was like welcome to America. This is how our story began... my dad and my mom teaching us how to bake and how to make famous chruscikis is really what it started with," Duchon said.
Duchon is the second-generation president and owner of the bakery. The business is now located in Depew.
The chrusciki — a sour cream fried dough topped with powdered sugar — remains the centerpiece of the bakery, but the business grew over the years into a broader European bakery, especially popular during the holidays.
"Over the years, we've developed and added so many different products. We've added a lot of Italian products... so it became very much a European bakery," Duchon said.
WATCH: 'A new chapter begins': Chrusciki Bakery announces Depew location inside Delavan Hotel closing after 40 years
Duchon estimates her family has filled millions of orders over the bakery's four decades. She said the decision to close comes down to a desire to spend more time with family.
"Third grandchild is coming, and my middle son lives in Spain, so just being able to find more time, more family truly is you know the big component of this," Duchon said.
Word of the closure spread quickly. Cliff Robinson of Cheektowaga stopped in Tuesday to stock up, recalling that the bakery made his wedding cake 9 years ago.
"My wife and I saw the announcement last night, and her birthday's on Monday, so she's like, my birthday, you gotta go get some of those cake slices because we come here every year for our anniversary to get that cake, and you know it's sad to see that it's going," Robinson said.
Though the decision to close has been emotional, Duchon said she is deeply grateful for the support of family, friends, her staff and the Western New York community.
"Thank you so much, we all are so appreciative of all of the support over the years, it's been wonderful, and we couldn't be more grateful. It was amazing. I mean talk about the American dream, right?" Duchon said.
Chrusciki Bakery closed its previous locations: one at the Broadway Market in June 2020 and another in Lancaster in May 2024.
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