Sonoma's Artisan Bakery Closing Retail Store, Will Continue Wholesale

Maggie Coble an employee of Artisan Bakery for the last four years, painted a farewell sign on the bakery's window announcing that the store at 720 W. Napa St., is closing its doors effective today (Friday).

Founded in 1992 and operated by award-winning baker Craig Ponsford, it was acquired in 2006 by GESD Capital Partners, which also owns Artisan's parent company, Gold Coast Bakers, as well as San Francisco's Boudin Bakery. The Artisan baking facility was moved to Eighth Street East in 2006 and grew primarily as a wholesale operation with hundreds of outlets.

Artisan will continue wholesale operations from its Eighth Street East headquarters, and will also have local outlets for its breads and pastries at several localions, including Sonoma/Glen Ellen Market, Broadway Market, Whole Foods, Safeway and Lucky.

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