A historic bakery has reopened in Homewood after briefly closing its doors last month, bringing back a longtime community staple and many of the employees who helped make it popular for decades.When Savage’s Bakery closed in February, many residents feared they were losing a business that had been part of the community for nearly a century. Customers lined up around the block for one last chance to buy their favorite treats.Jennifer Coggin was among those customers.”I stood in line for a couple of hours for those last-minute, the cream cheese meltaways, the bonbons, the cakes. It’s just, all of it’s amazing,” Coggin said.>> YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: Community coverage from WVTM 13On Monday morning, Coggin found herself back in line as the bakery reopened and fired up its ovens again.”It’s been a part of our lives for many, many years. We’re happy to have it back open under new leadership and we’re ready for the goodies!” she said.The bakery’s new owner is Kenneth Rhoades, who also owns O’Carr’s Delicatessen. Rhoades said he purchased the bakery to keep the historic business operating in Homewood.While the ownership has changed, Rhoades said many of the elements that made Savage’s a staple will remain the same, including longtime staff and traditional recipes.”We have everybody here that was here before. She’s been here 7 years, and we’ve got Ben from downstairs, he’s been here since he was 19 years old. He turned 65 this year,” Rhoades said.>> FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL: Facebook | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram”It’s going to have friendly faces, the same recipes exactly from scratch,” he continued. “We’re going to have a little bit of a, you know, more hands-on approach and more customer service. We’re going to be more come to you delivery, you know, other options, ways to get you,” he added.Coggin said the commitment to bringing the bakery, and its bakers, back is one reason she returned before the doors opened, hoping to get one of Savage’s signature smiley face cookies.”I mean, what they’ve been through is unimaginable. To have the rug just yanked out from under them. And then now somebody comes in and gives their jobs back, and that’s so wonderful. Some of these people have been here for years and years and years, and they’re part of the bakery. They’re family, they’re what makes it special,” Coggin said.
HOMEWOOD, Ala. —
A historic bakery has reopened in Homewood after briefly closing its doors last month, bringing back a longtime community staple and many of the employees who helped make it popular for decades.
When Savage’s Bakery closed in February, many residents feared they were losing a business that had been part of the community for nearly a century. Customers lined up around the block for one last chance to buy their favorite treats.
Jennifer Coggin was among those customers.
“I stood in line for a couple of hours for those last-minute, the cream cheese meltaways, the bonbons, the cakes. It’s just, all of it’s amazing,” Coggin said.
>> YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: Community coverage from WVTM 13
On Monday morning, Coggin found herself back in line as the bakery reopened and fired up its ovens again.
“It’s been a part of our lives for many, many years. We’re happy to have it back open under new leadership and we’re ready for the goodies!” she said.
The bakery’s new owner is Kenneth Rhoades, who also owns O’Carr’s Delicatessen. Rhoades said he purchased the bakery to keep the historic business operating in Homewood.
While the ownership has changed, Rhoades said many of the elements that made Savage’s a staple will remain the same, including longtime staff and traditional recipes.
“We have everybody here that was here before. She’s been here 7 years, and we’ve got Ben from downstairs, he’s been here since he was 19 years old. He turned 65 this year,” Rhoades said.
>> FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL: Facebook | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram
“It’s going to have friendly faces, the same recipes exactly from scratch,” he continued. “We’re going to have a little bit of a, you know, more hands-on approach and more customer service. We’re going to be more come to you delivery, you know, other options, ways to get you,” he added.
Coggin said the commitment to bringing the bakery, and its bakers, back is one reason she returned before the doors opened, hoping to get one of Savage’s signature smiley face cookies.
“I mean, what they’ve been through is unimaginable. To have the rug just yanked out from under them. And then now somebody comes in and gives their jobs back, and that’s so wonderful. Some of these people have been here for years and years and years, and they’re part of the bakery. They’re family, they’re what makes it special,” Coggin said.
Dining and Cooking