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Date: 11/3/2021
CHICOPEE – After 56 years, an iconic business in downtown Chicopee will be closing on Nov. 18.
“It’s time to close,” Paul Czajka, of Bob’s Bakery at 218 Exchange St., said.
He cited concerns with back and shoulder pain as the reasons for the decision.
Paul and his wife Dorothy took over the bakery from Paul’s father, Zygmunt, who started it 56 years ago on Nov. 9.
When asked if he had mixed emotions about closing, Paul said no. He said “when you’re in pain every day” the decision was necessary. He added that last Easter he could not keep up with the demands of his customers.
The day after the closing the bakery’s equipment will be auctioned off.
Dorothy said she will “not miss the holidays, so hectic” but is going to miss everything else.
“It’s been our second home,” she added.
Paul noted when his father opened the bakery in 1965 he had the 13th bakery in the city. He added that on Exchange Street alone there used to be three or four bakeries.
Originally Paul wanted to pursue a career in computers but joined his father in the bakery in 1981.
The couple’s two children have started careers of their own outside of the bakery business. The bakery had built up a clientele not just from Western Massachusetts.
This reporter witnessed people coming as far as from Schenectady and Utica, NY, to buy the authentic baked goods. Besides both Polish and American bakery items and bread, the couple started selling Polish imported food items a number of years ago. The bakery was also known for preparing paczi, the rich Polish jelly doughnut – originally served as a treat on Fat Tuesday – through most of the year.
In a story written for the bakery’s 50th anniversary in 2015, Paul noted his workday started at 11 p.m. and he baked overnight generally until 8 a.m., although with the holidays he could easily put in a 12-hour shift.
When asked what he was going to do in retirement, Paul smiled and said, “Play with my dog.”