What can anybody tell me about The Old River Road Bakery? (Philadelphia: sale, house)

[fisheye]

Back in the 1950’s and early 1960’s my parents took me to Scranton for the orthodontist. We used to stop at (I thought) The Old River Road Bakery close to downtown Scranton. They made the best cream puffs and éclairs that I have ever eaten. 20 years latter; they had an outlet down by me in Pocono Summit. It was only there for 10 or fifteen years and then closed.
I see Googling that there was a scandal (or controversy) about the sale of the business?
I guess what I am asking is if they are still producing great (to die for) cream puffs and éclairs? I see they have five locations listed in the area.

[theatergypsy]

I don't profess to be an expert on the subject but there are no ORR bakeries...They all closed...

The "scandal" about the sale was not about the business, it was about the sale of the defunct property that was once the bakery...Someone felt that the sale was engineered to favor certain buyers over another...

While I did like the chocolate eclairs, I always thought the rest of the stuff was pretty mundane...I must have been in the minority because they were always busy...Smart marketing strategy: Put the shops near a bus stop, so shoppers can pick up dessert on the way home.

If any part of this is wrong, I'm sure someone will jump in here and set it straight.

[fisheye]

Originally Posted by theatergypsy

I don't profess to be an expert on the subject but there are no ORR bakeries...They all closed...

The "scandal" about the sale was not about the business, it was about the sale of the defunct property that was once the bakery...Someone felt that the sale was engineered to favor certain buyers over another...

While I did like the chocolate eclairs, I always thought the rest of the stuff was pretty mundane...I must have been in the minority because they were always busy...Smart marketing strategy: Put the shops near a bus stop, so shoppers can pick up dessert on the way home.

If any part of this is wrong, I'm sure someone will jump in here and set it straight.

Thanks for the information theatergypsy,

I realize things change in fifty or so years. Today it is very hard for bakeries to compete with the “in store” bakeries in our food chains.
I also do not need anymore cream puffs in my life. I just reminisce about lost treasures. I still salivate when I think of the first cheese stake that I ate in Philadelphia back in the 1960’s. Sometimes it is very hard to duplicate your first experience with a “new” taste.

[Magritte25]

I loved ORR near Meyers High School when I lived in S. WB. We used to stop there almost every day afterschool. I'm sure that the baked goods were run of the mill, but it was a nice memory.

I agree that smaller bakeries have a hard time competing today. Sanitary Bakery in Nanticoke is awesome though!

[InfectedMushroom]

Being able to wake up every morning to the smell of fresh baked bread and pastries was great. It made mornings a lot more bearable.

It's a shame that it's no longer there, and they want to use the place to house towed cars and other crap. Fresh bread > oily truck driving men

[fisheye]

Here is a link to a small bakery chain that I went into up in Maine: http://www.sendbread.com/
The reason that I mentioned this is because the outlet that I went into was very busy. They have specialty breads and they are not cheap - about $5/loaf. However; they are selling a product that the chains do not sell. To make it today you need a specialty - something that sets you aside from the rest of the pack.
I will live without eating another Old River Road Bakery creampuff or éclair. That does not mean that I will not miss that bakery.

[Magritte25]

Originally Posted by InfectedMushroom

Being able to wake up every morning to the smell of fresh baked bread and pastries was great. It made mornings a lot more bearable.

It's a shame that it's no longer there, and they want to use the place to house towed cars and other crap. Fresh bread > oily truck driving men

Did you go to Meyers?

[cowboyxjon]

I grew up in Pottsville, but both of the McCrory stores at the malls had Old River Road bakery kiosks. I always loved the plain sugar cookies with icing -- usually either pink or yellow.

[InfectedMushroom]

Yup yup I did, did you?

[The Bad Guy]

Their iced cookies were to die for.