Bury St Edmunds Bake & Bites owner thanks Mildenhall Road Estate community for support after announcing closure

The owner of a popular independent bakery and café in Bury St Edmunds said regular customers have cried, after hearing they are set to close later this month.

Julie Hynds, 44, took over at Lake Avenue Bake & Bites in 2021 after managing the eatery under its previous owners.

Mrs Hynds, who works alongside her daughter Jodie Clarke, 27, said the pair have tried to keep Bake & Bites going for as long as they could, for the community.

She added: "We have ladies and gentlemen come in regularly from Chestnut Court, (a nearby retirement housing complex) it is part of their daily routine."

After making one member of staff redundant at the start of the year, Mrs Hynds said she was absolutely gutted that she had to close the café.

Over the last three months running the business has become increasingly challenging, as 'the cost of everything has gone through the roof'.

Mrs Hynds, who lives two minutes away from Bake & Bites said: "Some customers have cried when they heard we are closing and others have done the lottery and said we can have their winnings, people are very upset."

She continued: "Our customers are amazing, they have supported us since day one.

"The café has a real community feel and we did a big picnic on the green for the Jubilee."

Mrs Hynds, who admits she is 'still getting her head around the closure', said she has enjoyed working with her daughter, adding that customers often comment on how it is a welcoming, family-run business.

Lake Avenue Bake & Bites will close on April 23. The owners of the building have now put it up for sale as a business.