Goldsboro's Bakery, a long-standing staple of the Yuma community, will close its doors for the final time this Saturday, as the owner heads into retirement.
A legacy that will forever be remembered. Goldsboro Bakery saw generations grow up in Yuma, celebrating birthdays, graduations, weddings and the day to day interaction of the townspeople.
Tammy Jowers, a waitress at the bakery for the last eight years, became emotional when discussing the impact of the closure.
"Thank you for all your support," Jowers said. "We appreciate you guys and we will miss you."
For many customers, the bakery has been part of their lives for decades. Dan Grey, a client for 50 years, said he has been a regular since the birth of his now 50-year-old son.
"The first time I came here was when my son was born and they were across the street," Grey said. "I couldn’t stand to watch the birth, so I came over to have breakfast at Goldsboro's. And I’ve been coming back ever since."
For others, the bakery provided a sense of continuity. Theresa Jackson, who stopped by this week to order a birthday cake for her granddaughter, said the bakery is essential to the local culture.
"You know everybody loves to get their special-made cakes from here," Jackson said. "It’s always been a staple in Yuma. It’s definitely going to be missed."
The closure is especially difficult for those working behind the scenes. Craig Fisher, who has spent 18 years as a baker, arriving at 5:30 a.m. each morning, described the atmosphere as one of deep personal loss.
"It feels like someone’s dying," Fisher said. "Like a relative, like my grandma."
This Thursday was unusual at the bakery, at 8 a.m. the tone was tainted with sadness and a lot of last purchases.
Chito Fernandez from Arizona Best Hospice tends to buy two dozens to bring to work.
“I’m going to do my last purchase. I’m just sad it’s closing.”
Abby A. is as frequent as can be ever since her retirement 15 years ago and shares that she doesn’t know another place that can replace Goldsboro's.
“Every day, I come here every morning. It hurts. In fact I had a birthday party here and it was wonderful. I’m gonna miss Jen, I’m gonna miss the cooks, I gonna miss all the girls.”
Abby points at the workers with such familiarity and introduces them.
“That’s Sabrina and that’s Tammy, the girl in the back is Michelle. Sabrina takes care of me, she does all the work for me, I don’t see that much anymore."
On the counter, Ralph Vargas sips on his coffee.
“Now we gotta find a new place and there’s no place like Goldsboro, it’s like family”
For the last 18 years, Rachel Lugo decorated cakes, she was in charge of the smiley faces, frosting and embellishing of the goods at Goldsboro. As she walked out with her grandson, she expressed what the bakery had become for her.
“It’s a family, of course not just with the community but became a piece of my family too,” she said.
Joy Reed shared her favorite order.
“My favorite was that pretzel, it’s actually a donut that is to die for,” she said.
Jaime Ramirez, a Somerton native has been coming to Goldsboro since his high school days.
“(I) Love this place, love their food, great breakfast burritos, the donuts are out of this world." Ramirez said. "We’re gonna shed a tear when they close because it’s a lot of good memories.”
As Saturday approaches, the orders are being placed for the very last time. The ovens will stop. The lights will go out. And when the door clicks shut for the last time this Saturday evening, the legacy left behind won't be found in the recipes, but in the thousands of small, sweet moments that Goldsboro's Bakery helped make possible.
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Visit the KAWC Facebook page for more memories and comments shared by longtime Goldsboro's Bakery customers and feel free to share your thoughts there as well.
