City Bakery may be closing this weekend

The Brentwood outpost of City Bakery may be closing Saturday. Maury Rubin said it isn't definite, but customers have been told that Saturday might be the last day. 

But for ardent admirers of his giant cookies, famous pretzel croissants, baker's muffins, tarts, scones, hot chocolate and more, all would not be lost. Rubin says he is negotiating a space for a branch of his pioneering chain of green bakeries, Birdbath, in West Hollywood, which could be open as early as June. It would be the first Birdbath outside of New York. And he says he is planning to open another City Bakery, in West Hollywood or Hollywood. "But I'm focusing on getting Birdbath up and running quickly," Rubin says. 

Rubin debuted City Bakery in the Brentwood Country Mart in February 2006 and had gained a loyal following of Angelenos who appreciated having their own piece of the New York institution, which  opened in Union Square in 1990. However, "too many for too long have said, 'Boy, I wish you weren't in Brentwood,' " says Rubin. "No one wants to come here who doesn't live here. For me, it's been an obvious conclusion for about two years. I really did try to make it happen.

"I've never closed a business before, and in a really sweet way, people have been upset about it."

Rubin says he also has partnered to sell some of his products wholesale via Breadbar, such as his cookies, muffins and pretzel croissants. Meanwhile, it's pretty much business as usual at the Union Square location. "Union Square is filled with a lot of small companies -- design firms, PR -- and they're really hurting for work," Rubin says. "But I think we're one of those places where people feel great to go." 

-- Betty Hallock

The City Bakery, Brentwood Country Mart, 225 26th St., Brentwood. (310) 656-3040

Photo of City Bakery cookie by Bryan Chan / Los Angeles Times; photo of customers at City Bakery by Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Col]

oh i love city bakery but it was too far for me and a lot of my nyc expat friends. the pretzel croissants, insane hot chocolate, french toast. i could go on and on. so excited my favorites might be moving further east where they'll be better appreciated!

[ally]

I will be forever lamenting the loss of the pretzel croissant. And Breadbar is too far.

[Deena Sotto]

Dear Mr. Rubin, GET OVER YOURSELF! Yes I am a Brentwood resident. We would LOVE to love your restaurant. And yes it is apparent of your few loyal New York followers that stay inside on a beautiful day. The first mistake was the huge space that for whatever reason, never looked finished. The emotional feel of it was so sterile and smelled of bleach. The few 'pickings' of food always seemed to be picked over and visually not appealing. Who cares for an alcove filled with just a few chocolate bars that are available down the street at Whole Foods. The underbaked chocolate cookies were for those who like cookie dough. Lest we forget the last minute cookie box of a dozen, how much did they cost? Really were left over from the day before and stale. You were not successful because of the product. You had so many people say 'wish you were't in Brentwood'. The same amount of people agreed with my complaints above. Your place was cold. The beauty of the Country Mart is the wonderful warmth(a.k.a. fireplace) and community the center of it conveys. The New York City Bakery never did. You should have done some research of the community you were entering, instead of trying to make a fast buck. Git outta here!