It's time to rally around another longtime family-owned business while we still can!
Lopez Bakery, the family-owned and operated bakery and restaurant at 1100 W. Historic Mitchell St., has been a staple in the community, bringing joy and nourishment to countless customers for five decades.
But it seems that the end of that era is just around the bend.
Owners Jorge and Cindy Lopez, who took over bakery operations in 2012, posted the following message on their Facebook page this weekend.
"It is with great sadness, that we announce the permanent closing of Lopez Bakery. The bakery will remain open until the building is sold.
This has not been an easy decision and one we have struggled with for some time. After careful consideration of our financial situation and navigating challenging economic times, we felt this was best for not only our business but our family.
Since COVID, we were hit with a series of challenges and family health issues which made it incredibly difficult to maintain daily operations especially after we were forced to limit our services during the pandemic. During these challenging times, we were blessed with the support of the community to help our small business stay afloat. However, in spite of our greatest efforts, we felt this was the best decision.
The Lopez family is proud of what we have accomplished in the last 50 years. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as a minority, small business in the Hispanic community, local farmers markets and all of Southeastern Wisconsin. We ask that you please continue to support other small businesses and shop local as much as possible.
We would like to send a heartfelt thank you to our wonderful employees over the years who were like family. And of course, thank you to all our loyal customers for the many years of patronage.
Again, it will be business as usual until the building is sold. We love you all and are eternally grateful for the 50 years!
– Jorge and Cindy Lopez
So please, consider making a visit to the bakery in the coming days and weeks, and thanking the Lopez family for all that they've contributed to our community.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
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