Beloved bakery open again

THE ovens were turned on once more for a Mount Clear business staple after having being closed for more than a year.

Staff at Stewart’s Bakery opened their doors on Thursday last week following 14 months of rebuilding due to an alleged arson attack early last year.

With the revamped business including a new oven and modernised redesign, owner Noel Stewart said it’s been great to see their regular customers returning.

“We’ve been very busy and very supported by the local community,” he said. “There were a lot of people who were happy to see us open again.

“On Thursday people were bouncing in at 7am. We had a line out the door and on Saturday a line was down to the pole at the Midvale entrance.

“We had to have someone on the door letting people in and out.”

A grand opening was held on Saturday during which the Stewart family greeted customers with balloon decorations, baked giveaways, and a celebration cake from a marquee at the front.

The bakery’s roughly-15 employees were kept on throughout the redevelopment, including Kellie James whose been with Stewart’s Bakery for many years.

She said customers have been eager to make up for lost time.

“It’s actually surprising how many people have come in and said ‘we’ve missed you,’ and just how many people relied on the bakery being here,” she said.

“It’s great to know they’re glad we’re back and to see Noel and [co-owner Marg] reuniting with their customers on the Saturday.”

Mount Clear resident Jeanette Monteduro was a regular customer and said she welcomed the return of a family tradition.

“We’d come here every day after school to get the kids donuts,” she said. “All through primary school, we’d be down here getting a pie.

“We’ve come here three times since Thursday. The new look is really bright and fresh and nice.

“It’s a shame what they had to go through to get it but it’s lovely, inviting, warm and good old Stewart’s Bakery.”