The sudden closure of Modesto's Word of Mouth Baking Co. at the end of March has left customers and area restaurants in a lurch about where to get fresh local bread and pastries.
Word of Mouth sent customers and clients a letter stating the business was shutting down March 31. Owners Mary Ann and Donald Garcia took over the bakery from its founder and longtime owner David Bradford last May.
The Garcias did not return phone calls from The Bee.
We were very, very surprised when they closed," said Dewz Restaurant owner Judy Aspesi. "We've been using them since we opened 13 years ago. They just had a very good-tasting bread. We liked the consistency and the freshness."
Bradford, who started the company in 1996, grew the small business into a wholesale provider of locally made and fresh-baked breads and pastries for many area restaurants, supermarkets and the farmers market.
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