Local bakery to close, at least for now

Continental Bakery will close its doors Dec. 17 after more than 30 years of serving up fresh baked treats at the corner of L Street and Highway 101 in Crescent City.

“Basically the economy has finally hit us in the gut,” said co-owner April Martin, who runs the business with her husband, Brandon.

Martin estimated the price of sugar, flour and milk has increased 300 percent since the couple bought the bakery from Andre and Debbi Kompier seven years ago.

Meanwhile, the price of a Continental donut has risen by 6 cents.

“Coffee went up by 80 percent last year, and I haven’t raised my prices. That’s probably my fault, but you see people coming in without much money, and they are struggling just as much as we are,” Martin said. “I can’t justify charging $1.50 for a donut, especially when they can go to Safeway and get it for 59 cents.”

The couple hopes to save up over the next five months and re-open the bakery in the same location by spring.

The building is owned by Dottie Lindville, who has worked with Continental to keep things going this long, Martin said. There are no plans to  put another business in the space right away, Martin said.

The Martins plan to retool the interior in the meantime and come back on the scene with more savory items, like the ever-popular pesto roll.

For now, loyal customers have been coming to the bakery to stock up on treats to freeze, Martin said.

Continental currently employs five people besides the Martins, all of whom have been there at least a year. The bakery is open Tuesday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturdays from 6 a.m. until noon.

“We are one of those places you go in and you know people’s names and you know their usual. It’s not something we want to do, it’s something that we have to do,” Martin said.

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