Monday, August 16, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A·Page 7
Landmark bakery set to reopen
By Katie Hollar reporter@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
After nine months of locked doors and doughnutless nights, Joe's Bakery, 616 W. Ninth St., is scheduled to reopen sometime near Labor Day.
In November 1998, divorce proceedings forced owner Ralph Smith to choose between running his business and fighting for custody of his children. He made his children the priority and closed Joe's.
"I can rebuild my business," he said. "I can't just have more kids." When Smith's divorce was finalized Jan. 5, he received partial custody of his children. He has been working every day since to refurbish and remodel the landmark bakery, a favorite of KU students for decades.
the bakery in 1954, and Ralph Smith began running the business in 1980.
Smith's father, Joe Smith, opened
He said the break gave him time to reexamine the bakery and break away from the tunnel vision of everyday tasks.
His hiatus inspired him to implement several changes to the bakery.
"The same guy owns the bakery, but with a different outlook," he said.
In recent weeks, Smith has installed a smaller, more efficient oven, created a window to the kitchen and rearranged the floor plan of the bakery's front.
He also is contemplating changing the menu by cutting back on sandwiches and possibly adding pizza and cookie bouquets. He emphasized that Joe's classics — hot glazed doughnuts and egg-salad sandwiches — still would be available.
The bakery's hours have yet to be
determined. Although Joe's used to be open as late as 2 a.m., Smith is considering catering to an earlier crowd.
"After 20 years of working nights, I'm kind of tired of it, but I hate to shut my nights completely," he said. "I may just open up and float awhile."
For KU students who have been deprived of Joe's pastries since Thanksgiving, the bakery's reopening is welcome news.
"I love Joe's," said Frances Gorman, Shawnee junior. "I am so happy, I can't wait. They are the only bakery in town that makes my long johns the right way, with real cream instead of that pudding stuff."
Greg Lewis, Norfolk, Va., junior,
is a second-generation Joe's addict.
"When my dad went here, he gained 25 pounds his freshman year
just from Joe's," he said. Maybe
"I love Joe's. I am so happy, I can't wait. They are the only bakery in town that makes my long johns the right way, with real cream instead of that pudding stuff."
Frances Gorman
Shawnee junior
now I can start to catch up."
how it learn to catch up.
Smith said he was determined to become a success as both a baker and a father.
—Edited by Kelly Clasen
"My kids and I will be closer, and the bakery will still be good," he said. "I can promise you that."
After closing its doors last November, Joe's Bakery is scheduled to reopen sometime close to Labor Day. Kansan file photo
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