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A fundraiser has been launched to help Gerry’s Cakes, a bakery that operated for 33 years at 1141 Chestnut St. in downtown Menlo Park, reopen after it was forced to close last month.
The bakery’s former landlord sold the building and the new owners originally gave it 30 days to move out. Neighboring businesses, Shiok! Singapore Kitchen and Ela Lingerie, were also forced to close. Owner Sohrab Molavi said the short notice left him unable to find an alternative location in time, causing significant financial losses.
“We could not have enough time to think and find another location to move everything there and start again,” Molavi wrote in an email. “I lost all my business; at least the value was $150,000, and now I have $50,000 debt from a credit card and business loan with no income.”
Unable to relocate heavy equipment due to the quick timeline, Molavi gave away or sold some equipment at a low price, leaving behind other items when the bakery closed.
With rental costs too high at potential new locations, Solab said he’s currently seeking alternative employment to pay off his debt and make a living.
“I looked at many locations, but they are too expensive,” he said.
Solab bought the business 15 years ago after working as an employee at the bakery. Solab still uses recipes from the bakery’s namesake, Gerry Stagi, who founded the bakery in 1992 after working for his father’s bakery.
The GoFundMe campaign aims to raise $30,000 to cover relocation expenses, secure a new space, purchase equipment and manage employee costs. Organizers hope the funds will help “keep Gerry’s Cakes baking for years to come.”
