COBS Bread to close

COBS Bakery will be closing on July 30 due to poor business. The artisan bread chain, running under the Australian parent company Bakers Delight, has more than 700 stores throughout Australia, New Zealand and Canada. The company branched to the United States last year, opening up three bakeries in Western Washington: the first at Crossroads Mall, the second in Mill Creek, and the third in The Mercer. All three branches will be closing at the end of this month.

September 9, 2008 3:00 pm

COBS Bakery will be closing on July 30 due to poor business. The artisan bread chain, running under the Australian parent company Bakers Delight, has more than 700 stores throughout Australia, New Zealand and Canada. The company branched to the United States last year, opening up three bakeries in Western Washington: the first at Crossroads Mall, the second in Mill Creek, and the third in The Mercer. All three branches will be closing at the end of this month.

The Island branch, which has been open since Oct. 18, “was just not popular enough,” according to baker Ryan Hansen. Indeed, business in all three Washington bakeries was not up to market standards.

“Our corporate office had hoped we’d do better,” said Island branch production manager Kimm Moore, adding that sales are much stronger in Canada.

During its nine months on MI, Cobs had close ties with the community, raising $2,300 for Island Park Elementary School; donating baked goods to Friends of the Needy; providing bread for local restaurants and businesses, as well as participating in Island festivities such as the annual Firehouse Munch and Summer Celebration!