Lyndell's Bakery
{{Short description|Bakery in Ball Square in Somerville, Massachusetts}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
Image:Lyndell's Bakery, Somerville MA.jpg
Lyndell's Bakery is a bakery in Ball Square in Somerville, Massachusetts. In December 2007, it celebrated 120 years of operation.{{cite web
|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/12/04/somerville_bakery_keeps_recipe_for_success/
|title=Somerville bakery keeps recipe for success
|first=John C.
|last=Drake
|publisher=The Boston Globe
|date=2007-12-04}} Lyndell's is a classic, full-service American bakery, a rare holdout in New England communities.
Ownership history
Birger C. Lyndell, born in Sweden in 1866, moved to the United States in 1880, seven years before the founding of Lyndell's Bakery in 1887. He lived in Newton until 1901, when he moved to Somerville at an address a block away from the original location of Lyndell's Bakery. A 1940 Newton directory listed Lyndell as retired. The identity of the original owner was lost until uncovered by Bob Hallett, a genealogy buff, who read about the 120 year anniversary in The Boston Globe.{{cite web
|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2007/12/post_5.html?p1=MEWell_Pos2
|title=Globe reader finds founder of 120-year-old Somerville bakery
|first=John C.
|last=Drake
|publisher=boston.com
|date=2007-12-04}}
The bakery's second owner, Eugene Klemm, purchased the business in 1934 and brought a German influence to the recipes. Klemm sold it to Herman and Janet Kett in 1968. In 2000, Gary Bagarella and a partner, Bill Galatis, former executives with South Boston-based Watermark Donut Company, one of Dunkin' Donuts largest franchises, bought the bakery.{{cite web
|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2000/09/25/story4.html
|title=Will Lyndell's ownership change be a piece of cake?
|publisher=Boston Business Journal
|first=Donna L.
|last=Goodison
|date=2000-11-22}} Bagarella sold his stake in the business to Galatis in early 2000.
Operations
Changes after 2000
Although customers expressed concerns that there would be radical changes brought by the new owners after 2000, Bill Galatis learned quickly that it would be difficult and risky to make changes to the formula that had made Lyndell's a local institution. The store had stopped opening on Sundays during World War II due to rationing; Galatis changed that and Sunday became their best sales day. He also restored selling cream-filled pastries in the summer months. However, he preserved the classic recipes, custom-decorated sheet cakes, and retro storefront sign that have kept customers coming back.
The bakery has expanded its operations by opening additional locations in Cambridge, near Central Square (opened in 2010, closed in 2013),{{cite web |title=Lyndell's Bakery Is Closing Its Shop in Cambridge's Central Square {{!}} Boston Restaurant Talk |url=http://bostonrestaurants.blogspot.com/2013/08/lyndells-bakery-is-closing-its-shop-in.html |website=bostonrestaurants.blogspot.com |date=30 August 2013}} and in Boston's North End (opened in 2009, closed in 2011).{{cite web |title=Lyndell's Bakery Has Closed Its North End Location {{!}} Boston Restaurant Talk |url=http://bostonrestaurants.blogspot.com/2011/06/lyndells-bakery-has-closed-its-north.html |website=bostonrestaurants.blogspot.com |date=13 June 2011}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.lyndells.com}}
{{coord|42|24|0.2|N|71|6|46.6|W|region:US|display=title}}
Category:Bakeries of Massachusetts
Category:American companies established in 1887
Category:Food and drink companies established in 1887
Category:Retail companies established in 1887
Category:Buildings and structures in Somerville, Massachusetts
Category:Tourist attractions in Middlesex County, Massachusetts