THE ovens were turned on once more for a Mount Clear business staple after having being closed for more than a year.<\/p>\n
Staff at Stewart\u2019s Bakery opened their doors on Thursday last week following 14 months of rebuilding due to an alleged arson attack early last year.<\/p>\n
With the revamped business including a new oven and modernised redesign, owner Noel Stewart said it\u2019s been great to see their regular customers returning.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been very busy and very supported by the local community,\u201d he said. \u201cThere were a lot of people who were happy to see us open again.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had to have someone on the door letting people in and out.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The bakery\u2019s roughly-15 employees were kept on throughout the redevelopment, including Kellie James whose been with Stewart\u2019s Bakery for many years.<\/p>\n
She said customers have been eager to make up for lost time.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s actually surprising how many people have come in and said \u2018we\u2019ve missed you,\u2019 and just how many people relied on the bakery being here,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s great to know they\u2019re glad we\u2019re back and to see Noel and [co-owner Marg] reuniting with their customers on the Saturday.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mount Clear resident Jeanette Monteduro was a regular customer and said she welcomed the return of a family tradition.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019d come here every day after school to get the kids donuts,\u201d she said. \u201cAll through primary school, we\u2019d be down here getting a pie.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve come here three times since Thursday. The new look is really bright and fresh and nice.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a shame what they had to go through to get it but it\u2019s lovely, inviting, warm and good old Stewart\u2019s Bakery.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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\u2019s 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 […]<\/p>\n