Art's Bakery, a Millcreek staple since 1950, plans another Erie-area location

It was less than a year ago that Todd and Cori Sutton purchased 73-year-old Art's Bakery in Millcreek Towsnship.

Now, the owners are moving ahead with plans for a new location in Harborcreek Township.

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Todd Sutton said Art's will lease space in a newly completed building at 4625 Buffalo Road, next door to Advance Auto, located east of the former Kmart Plaza.

A full-service location

Sutton described the new location as a full-operation bakery that will have its own equipment and make the full line of cakes, cookies, pies and other items on-site.

"It will have exactly the same offerings, all the same products," he said.

He said that he and his wife, who purchased the business from second-generation owner Gordon Evans, had originally hoped to open the new bakery by the beginning of March. Delays have prompted them to move that date back to sometime before May 1.

Looking to hire

Sutton said he expects to hire about 15 new people to staff the new location and will be moving some existing employees to the new bakery.

"I did a lot of hiring for 2023," he said. "If anything, we have almost too many employees in this location."

Customer demand

Sutton said business has been good in the existing Art's location, at 4380 West Ridge Road. He said that he and his wife were encouraged by patrons to expand, especially when they set up to sell their baked goods at community events such as 8 Great Tuesdays.

"People kept asking us when are you going to North East or Harborcreek," he said.

The new location, like the existing bakery, will continue to raise the profile of its deli items and sandwiches.

But the basic nature of Art's hasn't changed.

As it stands, he said, "the bakery has always been 90% of our business," he said.

Something new for township

Harborcreek Township Supervisor Dean Pepicello said the new bakery will represent a unique new offering for the township.

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"It's a big deal," Pepicello said. "Obviously, they are incredibly popular and to have them expand to our Buffalo Road corridor is a good addition. Just more options."

From where Pepicello sits, it's more evidence of what Harborcreek has to offer.

"It appear more and more to us if you are looking to expand your business and you are not looking at Harborcreek, you are missing out," he said.

Art's Bakery was founded by Art Evans in 1950.

Contact Jim Martin at jmartin@timesnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Art's Bakery plans second location on Harborcreek's Buffalo Road