For the first time since opening its doors in 1993, Metropolitan Bakery will be under new ownership, writes Julia Binswanger for Billy Penn at WHYY.
Known for its French baguettes, flaky pastries, and sourdough loaves, Metropolitan Bakery is being acquired by Peter Merzbacher, owner of Merzbacher’s.
While the beloved Philadelphia bakery will be under ownership, Metropolitan’s baked goods will still be available to purchase.
Metropolitan Bakery founders James Barrett and Wendy Smith Born have shared their recipes and equipment with Merzbacher to ensure their baked goods can still be sold to customers.
Merzbacher previously told The Philadelphia Inquirer that he “developed all of my products with Metropolitan being the elephant in the room.”
To this end, he will work as a consultant to help the company transition production-wise, and keep as many of Metropolitan’s 40 employees as possible.
Barrett and Smith Born initially opened Metropolitan over three decades ago because both felt that Philadelphia was missing an artisan bakery.
Barrett credited its longevity and success partly to the authenticity of its recipes.
“We’ve become a community institution: the neighborhood bakery — the place where people go to find their favorite morning treat or evening treat,” said Smith Born.
Its Rittenhouse Square location will close on Sunday, March 15.
Read more about Metropolitan Bakery’s ownership change in Billy Penn at WHYY.
_____
