The end of a Story

The Chinatown Bread Story has closed.

I walked past the old Maxim's site tonight and was shocked to see Bread Story closed and is in the process of being completely disassembled. What happened?

I was never a regular patron, but I did appreciate the happy little buzz late here every night, as office workers, uni students, families and couples hovered over the sweet bread cabinets, tray in one hand, open tongs in the other.

The Bread Story at Broadway closed down months ago. Does this mean the end of Bread Story in Australia completely? EDIT: Lin just reminded me about the Bread Story in Skyview Plaza on George Street (near the cinemas). Does anyone know if it's still open? EDIT2: Yes, henrysan has confirmed Skyview Plaza Bread Story has closed.

There are more and more "for lease" signs down Sussex Street. Ippon Sushi has closed. So too has May Chan Hong, the little snack shop that used to sell obanyaki and takoyaki in the front window.

Over in Market City there's a "for lease" sign on the roller doors of Janny's Cakes. The BBQ shop and eatery has also closed down, and my favourite taro pearl supplier Icy Drinks has also gone. Admittedly this last site has been replaced by Puffy, but *sigh* even Beb Patisserie on Broadway has closed.

It's a changing of the guard. Let's hope the new ones are even more delicious.

EDIT 12/07/07: Barby's Puff, Donuts n Bakery has now opened on this site

Related GrabYourFork posts:
Barby's Puff, Donuts n Bakery
Beb Patisserie, Broadway (RIP)
Bread Story, Broadway (RIP)
Bread Story, Haymarket (RIP)
Ippon Sushi, Haymarket (RIP)
Puffy at Market City

20 Comments:

At 7/06/2007 1:14 am, Anonymous said…

I was shocked too when I found out those shops have closed down. I just went to Bread Story on Sunday and 2 days later when I passed by, it was closed down, so surprised. There is another Bread Story in the shopping centre in George st, I think it is Skyview Plaza or something like that. Or has that one closed too?
At 7/06/2007 1:21 am, Helen (Grab Your Fork) said…

Hi Lin - So it's been closed since Tuesday? I forgot about the Bread Story in Skyview. I'll have to make a detour soon to see if it's still open (the wording on the closing notice makes it sound like that whole company has shut down). It's nice to see them giving best wishes to the next bakery? Are they connected perhaps?
At 7/06/2007 6:09 am, Anonymous said…

Dare one hope for Maxim's making a triumphant comeback? Methinks its time for those Hail Marys at Mass this Sunday ...
At 7/06/2007 7:28 am, Cranky Tech said…

I noticed a lot "for lease" signs when I was walking down Goulburn and Dixon Streets a few days ago.

It seems there's a big changing of the guard. Hopefully it's not an indicator of something more serious around that part of the city.
At 7/06/2007 9:04 am, Anonymous said…

Perhaps breadtop is coming to sydney CDB?
At 7/06/2007 9:43 am, Anonymous said…

That's what you get for taking my beloved Maxim's away! Take that Bread Story!!! *evil laugh*
At 7/06/2007 11:51 am, Anonymous said…

This is a little sad. Prices may have been more then the average bread shop but the novelty of non-american food franchises was/is still quite charming (to me at least).

To answer the question though, Skyview Plaza breadtop has also closed
At 7/06/2007 2:30 pm, Anonymous said…

rent prices have probaly skyrocketed driving these guys out of business??
At 7/06/2007 4:57 pm, Anonymous said…

Boring as it may seem its likely the cost of operation was just too much.

Chinatown rents probably don't help either.

Bread Story were pretty ambitious. Possibly overly so.

Caught me by surprise when I walked past this week to see it was being stripped back. Along with the Japanese places boarded up.

Having said that I miss Maxims. When I think of cakes in Chinatown it was always them. Showing my age !
At 7/06/2007 5:25 pm, Anonymous said…

I noticed this too the other day - I had to backtrack and buy emperor's puffs instead. Very disappointing...
At 7/06/2007 7:33 pm, mcdive said…

erratik, I am pretty sure there is already a bread top in World Square

Bread Story closing makes me very sad :( Pepper Lunch will probably be next :(
At 7/06/2007 7:44 pm, Unknown said…

Luckily in Melbourne Maxim's is still pottering away with their two stores in Chinatown (right next to the 'cemetery gates') and Box Hill. Also just around the corner is the only full time Chinese language cinema left in Australia. I have been going to both on and off since 1998 and weekly since 2000 so I would have to see either of them close down.
At 7/06/2007 11:17 pm, Anonymous said…

Hi Helen,

Sorry, I went there on Saturday, not Sunday. I passed by on Monday and it has closed. Not sure if they were open on Sunday.
At 7/07/2007 11:13 pm, Helen (Grab Your Fork) said…

Hi gobsmack'd - It'd be a lovely thought to have Maxim's come back, but I'm a pessimist. I'm guessing it's going to either be Breadtop or Beard Papa.

Hi Paul - Let's just hope that new tenants do come in. And that they will be serving things that are edible and delicious :)

Hi Erratik - I'm guessing Breadtop or Beard Papa :)

Hi Tracey - lol.

Hi Henrysan - Thanks for the field research. So it really has shut all operations down. A sobering thought on how tough the hospitality industry is.

Hi Anon - Perhaps. Maybe their expansion was also a little too rapid to sustain?

Hi Andrew - I think everyone has a sentimental spot for Maxim's :) I still remember their distinctive boxes with fondness.

Hi Jax - Don't you hate it when your dessert plans are ruined!

Hi Jeremy - I've yet to try Pepper Lunch. Must get there soon :)

Hi Tim - Hurray for Maxim's in Melbourne. The two Chinese cinemas in Sydney both remain closed and unused. A pity, really.

Hi Lin - Thanks for clarifying :)
At 7/09/2007 1:42 pm, Anonymous said…

Janny's Cakes relocated to Ashfield. I had only recenltly discovered them when they shut down, and had been regularly venturing there for fried combination dumplings (mmmmmm), red bean dumplings and cocktail buns (which I had decided were the best in Chinatown). Might have to make the effort to get to Ashfield :)

Breadtop does sound pretty likely, given they're said it's another bakery. I'm sure I have seen Breatdtop vans parked outside Bread Story tooo. Hmmm...
At 7/10/2007 6:26 pm, Anonymous said…

Hey guys.. Does anyone know where the Takoyaki shop moved to that was in May Chan Hong b4? i know the Hantou cake shop moved to World Square in the chinese supermarket..

If someone can tell me would be great..been looking all over for the takoyaki ><
At 7/11/2007 1:49 pm, Anonymous said…

Hi Helen - I had a look at the Breadstory website and as far as I can tell they're just franchises; their 'Outlets' page still says that they have 2 shops in Sydney (but doesn't say where) and shows a pic of the china town branch. So they haven't caught up either!
At 7/11/2007 9:21 pm, Helen (Grab Your Fork) said…

Lillaflicka - Yup, you're right. I had a look at the sign posted on the wall and they've relocated to Liverpool Road, Ashfield.

Hi zan - Not sure where the takoyaki place moved. You can often spot them at festivals around Sydney (often run by local councils), otherwise you can get them from Japanese restaurants including Menya and Ju Ju.

Hi Jax - I had a look at their website and noticed that too. Websites are usually the last thing to be updated I find :) We'll have to wait ands see...
At 7/26/2007 10:23 pm, Anonymous said…

FYI, the owner of Barby's Bakery is actually the same person with Bread Story which has closed down. it was just change of name, paintjob and addition of donuts and puffs. oh, and a coffee machine as well. their bread and cakes collection are similar, only with different naming, not as fancy as Bread Story did previously. and the puffs are Beard Papa wannabe with more flavours to choose from but less tasty experience. even the staffs and bakers are the same. go figure...:D
no wonder the notice board kindly request the customer to support the "new" bakery. LOL :)
At 7/29/2007 6:21 pm, Helen (Grab Your Fork) said…

Hi Hendra - Thanks for the insider info :)