City Bakery may be closing this weekend

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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