Landmark Sweeney's Bakery closing in June after 60-year run

Sweeney's Bakery, a Brandywine Hundred institution since 1957, will be closing its doors in June.

In a note posted May 1 on its Facebook page, owner James C. Sweeney III said he will not be signing a new lease for the 2068 Naamans Road bakery in the F and N Shop Village Shopping Center.

The bakery was founded 60 years ago by Sweeney's parents, James C. Sweeney Jr. and Margaret Sweeney.

"It is a testament to their hard work that we are still open in 2018," Sweeney III said.

Longtime customers reacted with shock and sadness. By 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, more than 200 comments were posted on the Facebook page. 

"Oh no, I am devastated. Sweeney's Bakery has been a part of my family’s life since we moved here in 1968. Thank you for all the years of hard work and dedication. You will be sorely missed," wrote Mary Beth Limmina.

"So incredibly sorry to see this news! I know many people will highly miss your bakery! So sad! Grocery store cakes just are not the same as the local bakery!" Kristin Gargani Manley said. "Thank you so much for sharing all your hardworking talents and creating special memories!"

Three generations of the Sweeney family had worked at the old-school scratch bakery.

Founder James C. Sweeney Jr. began making dough for the bakery's sweet and savory pastries and loaves of bread most days beginning at 1 a.m. He told The News Journal in a 1976 interview that 15 to 16 hour days weren't unusual. Sweeney worked at the business until his death in 2009, and his son took over operations.

Sweeney's was known for its green-iced frog cupcakes, a St. Patrick's Day tradition since the early 1960s, as well as birthday cakes, cookies, Danish and other pastries.

The bakery, which had moved locations in the shopping center after the expansion of the Acme market, faced closing in 1999 after two years of road construction at Naamans and Foulk roads caused a drop in business.

Local businesses and community members rallied together and helped raise funds to keep the bakery going. The business began improving and Sweeney expanded to include an ice cream parlor.

In his note on Facebook, Sweeney said he wanted to "thank the employees, past and present. Some who have been with us for decades and are considered family.

Finally, I need to thank the customers. Without them, none of this would have been possible.

I am fortunate enough to have grown up before many of you. You have been kind and loyal through our many ups and downs."

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Contact Patricia Talorico at (302) 324-2861 or ptalorico@delawareonline.com and on Twitter @pattytalorico