We know D.C. Get our free newsletter to stay in the know.
Heller’s Bakery, a Mount Pleasant landmark famous for both its 96-year lifespan and tasty donuts, couldn’t keep up with rent at its 3,700-square-foot shop on the 3200 block of Mount Pleasant Street NW and will close its doors this month. The bakery opened in 1928, but most recently changed owners 10 years ago, according to current owner Aleks Duni.
“We are really sad to leave,” Duni tells City Desk.
Duni says the bakery was one month behind in rent and couldn’t reach an agreement with the landlord. He says his yearly rent is set to go up 15 percent in 2015; he says he pays $24 per square foot per year now, or $88,800 annually. Business, he says, has been slow lately.
Duni hopes to eventually reopen the shop in D.C. While he likes Mount Pleasant, he says there probably isn’t a big enough space for Heller’s there. In the meantime, Duni is trying to figure out if he can still distribute food to D.C. establishments.
Heller’s will be closed Thursday and Friday this week for Christmas and will open for its last two days in business on Saturday and Sunday.
People have already taken to Twitter to mourn the bakery. (Well, most mourned; some complained about the quality of the carbs.)
https://twitter.com/erinschaff/status/547460302384955396
https://twitter.com/KenSilverstein1/status/547456380886851586
NOOO DON'T TAKE MY CHEAP DONUTS AWAY
— Andrew Lapin (@AndrewLapin) December 23, 2014
MT @popville Heller’s Bakery closing in Mount Pleasanthttp://t.co/M8RoFhk6KR …
https://twitter.com/cmartinfirvida/status/547454721066565639
https://twitter.com/dcpunkarchive/status/547459833876979719
Frankly, was never that impressed, but still sad to see it go. Heller's Bakery To Close After This Weekend http://t.co/PxIKJfib0M
— Sriram Gopal (@srigop8) December 23, 2014
Heller's Bakery is finally closing. Victory for baked goods everywhere. http://t.co/r2LvBEGTw5
— Chris Nehls (@Nehlsie) December 23, 2014
Screenshot via Google Maps