Popular Edmonton bakery closes its historic location after 64 years in business

It’s the end of an era for a popular Edmonton bakery located in the heart of Chinatown. After 64 years in business, the Italian Bakery decided to close this location on 106 Avenue and 97 Street for good.

“It’s a very emotional decision. This place is part of history for me. I was born and raised here. My parents started this,” said Rosaly Devenz, the owner of the Italian Bakery.

Rosaly Devenz grew up in the downtown bakery, helping her parents Antonio and Aurora Frattin who moved from Italy to Canada for a better life.

“It’s more just than a business,” said Devenz.

While it was a hard decision to make, Devenz says the business has been struggling to thrive in the neighbourhood.

“Ninety per cent of the businesses have their doors locked. You have to knock to enter. You have to buzz and I’m like how do you sustain a business when your doors are locked?” said Devenz.

“Saturday mornings always had families with kids and it was great, they didn’t feel unsafe but the community has changed a lot through COVID in the last four years for sure.”

Looking at empty shelves, closed doors, and employees cleaning up. It’s not something Devenz had imagined witnessing, she tells CityNews.

“My late husband worked really hard to create a sense of community. We were hoping that one day my daughter would be running this location.”

This location was opened in 1960 before the business expanded to a second location in Edmonton’s Beverly neighbourhood. And for Devenz, the memories are endless.

“We would come in with buns that just came out of the oven and my brother would be screaming, ‘hot buns, hot buns.’ We would be tossing bread and try to catch it in a bag. It was really a great vibe.”

The bakery is known for its pastries, donuts, cakes and breakfast club, and the list goes on. The bakery’s other location in Beverly on 41 Street and 118 Avenue will remain open.