Hidden Tribeca Classic Arcade Bakery May Close in August

Despite a flurry of international bakeries opening in New York City in recent months, one of the city’s best may soon be making its way out.

Tribeca baked goods gem Arcade Bakery will close in August, with founder Roger Gural citing personal reasons for the closure, Tribeca Citizen reports. Home to baked goods commonly found in a French boulangerie or patisserie, Arcade Bakery has grown to become one of the city’s most essential stops for baguettes and pastries.

Update: Gural tells Eater he’s closing the shop because he has rheumatoid arthritis, and the disorder is making it difficult for him to work. He says he just started marketing the store for sale and has no solid leads yet. If no buyer steps up by August, the shop will close during the first or second week of the month.

It opened in 2014 within the arcade of a 1920s-era Tribeca office building at 220 Church St., between Worth and Thomas streets. Through word of mouth, news of the classic French bakery hidden inside the building spread: its excellent breads and fluffy slices of babka soon drew in customers from outside the building, too.

Before opening his own bakeshop, Gural worked for Bouley Bakery, Amy’s Bread, Almondine Bakery, and Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bakery in Napa. He also spent time in France perfecting his craft, and taught at the International Culinary Institute.

Now, the bakery is up for grabs, meaning it could remain open if another owner wants to step in.

In the meantime, the bakery remains open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Arcade Bakery will be closing — for good — in August [Tribeca Citizen]