Hanging up the apron: beloved Hazeldean bakery seeks new ownership

The owner of Hazeldean Bakery in Edmonton has plans to sell the shop after 50 years in the community. CTV News Edmonton's Evan Kenny reports.

After 15 years of freshly-baked fritters, bread and other treats, south-central Edmonton is saying goodbye to a community staple.

Lucy has been running Lucy’s Sweets and Hazeldean Bakery for the past 15 years, but the bakery itself has been in the community for 50.

But Lucy is hanging up her apron – she’s decided to sell the business and retire.

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The business’s realtor, Lucy Liu, said the goal is not to end the legacy.

“She absolutely wants this bakery to continue, because she put so much effort into it … she needs a break, but she’s worried about other people too,” Liu said in an interview on Friday.

Liu added that since creating the “for sale” ad, the bakery has become more popular than it already was.

“Saturday mornings, 8:30 a.m., the lineup is out the door down a store or two, and she still hasn’t even opened yet,” customer Michelle Closs said in line at the bakery.

Closs owns ReImagined Fabrics in the area and said the community is great for supporting the things they love.

“I get people in my store from the west end saying they came just for Lucy’s bakery,” she said.

Brianna Hellum and Eric Forcier were both there as well to get their sweet treat for the day. They said part of the shop’s charm is Lucy herself.

“We’ve got a four-year-old. Anytime we go, she makes sure he sits down in a chair and hands him a cookie,” Hellum said.

Liu said all the equipment, staff and clientele are included in the sale, and Lucy herself is willing to train the new owners on running the business.

“We hope whoever buys will continue doing the bakery, and we’ll see the same fritters and stuff,” Forcier added.

“But I hope she has a great retirement.”

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Evan Kenny