Utah bakery to close its 3 locations, adding to growing list of area restaurant closures

SALT LAKE CITY — A popular bakery with three locations across the Wasatch Front says it’s shutting down.

The Chubby Baker announced on Sunday that it plans to close all three of its locations on Nov. 9, citing the “rising costs of goods, payroll, and so many other expenses” and family obligations.

The bakery debuted as a delivery service during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, before opening its first storefront location a year later at 900 South in Salt Lake City. It then expanded to Orem and Sandy, after gaining a following with its doughnuts, drinks and other sweets.

Yet, financial challenges made it become “increasingly difficult to sustain the business,” owner and founder Ying Nance wrote in a message to customers on Sunday.

“On top of that, as our family continues to grow, I’ve realized how much time and energy this business takes — time I want to spend with my little ones. I am a businesswoman, but I will always be a mom first,” she added. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for every visit, every kind word, and every bit of support along the way. You’ve made this journey so special.”

Nance urged customers to visit any of the business’s three locations for one last bite or drink before it shuts down. Her note was bittersweet for fans, who thanked her for starting the business that they were sad to see go.

“You should be so so proud of what you built, and you’ll be really missed,” one person wrote.

Other recent restaurant closures

Chubby Baker’s announcement comes as a few other restaurants in the area have announced closures or scalebacks this month.

Current Fish & Oyster, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, is slated to cease operations on Nov. 8, according to Gastronomic Salt Lake City, which described it as a “big, bold, ambitious must-visit” restaurant that propelled the region’s food scene when it debuted in 2015.

Saturday was the last day for Charlotte-Rose’s Carolina BBQ (792 E. 3300 South in Millcreek) as a storefront restaurant, as owners announced on Facebook that it would shift to a “catering only business.” No explanation was given for either closure.

Laziz Kitchen’s last day downtown was last week. It announced on Oct. 9 that it would close its downtown location, along with Back Door on Edison, a speakeasy attached to it, citing all sorts of issues from cost to the lingering impacts of construction along 200 South, which ended last year.

“Living bill to bill is tiresome,” the company wrote on social media. “Food costs have become unsustainable, construction for years on end, and the ever-changing economy, all while trying to do right by our team, our guests, and doing something we felt proud of.

Its owners closed a Midvale location last year, leaving one remaining location at 912 S. Jefferson Street in Salt Lake City’s Central Ninth neighborhood.

“We hope … that our remaining location can continue to be a staple in the community and beat the odds of an industry that is suffering,” the restaurant added.

Several other Wasatch Front restaurants have closed in recent months, Gastronomic Salt Lake City reported. Those include Policy Kings, which was evicted a few months after relocating to Salt Lake City, Pizza Bar in downtown Salt Lake City and Aquarious Fish Company near Pioneer Park.

But the food outlet points out that over 150 new restaurants opened last year, and many more this year in the ever-evolving industry.

Read more: Local businesses host food drives to help those affected by the government shutdown