“The number you’re calling is no longer in service.” Imagine my horror at hearing the recording.
Friday nights have been pizza nights at our house ever since Beyond Bread on Sound Beach Avenue began offering the thin-crust pies several years ago. At first I thought the bakery had lost its phone line. It was March 14 and the winds were at full gale.
Only later did I receive the news that Harvey and Michelle Edwards, the proprietors of Beyond Bread – the French bakery – had finally decided to call it quits.
I remember our realtor taking us around Greenwich 10 years ago when we were contemplating moving here. She took us to Greenwich Point, showed us the Avenue and pointed out that the bakery in OG was top-notch. That a bakery was on her list of top attractions in Greenwich was testament to the quality of the goods proffered at the simple unadorned store across the street from the CVS.
I remember one summer night about six years ago when Michelle invited my son and some of his friends to give an impromptu concert in front of the bakery with their guitars. It wasn’t long before the officious manager of Beach House Cafe next door called the cops and put a quick end to the music. I have not gone back to the Beach House since. But I went to Beyond Bread often, as did many OG residents.
Old Greenwich seems to have at least two of everything: cleaners, barbershops, gas stations, boutiques, wine stores, opticians, even martial arts instructors. But we only had one fabulous bakery. And now, we are without Beyond Bread, and our lives are poorer for it.
Sign of the times I guess. Family owned small operations like this can’t seem to make it!! Sad!
Comment by Idaho — April 4th, 2010 @ 12:07 am
Hi Lincoln –
How can I forget? – How can we ALL forget? – When he sneaked behind me and whispered ‘do you mind if I sing, Mrs Edwards? Do you have a fasvorite song’ – I knew, I just knew it would be THE NIGHT TO REMEMBER -IT WOULD BE MY NIGHT! He grabbed that mike and let it all- UNBELIEVABLE! ” JUST TAKE THESE OLD RECORDS OFF THE SHELF- LALALALALA -” – I WENT NUTS – MY GOD! – WE ALL WENT NUTS! – The whole restaurant came out clapping hands, dancing in the street – HE WAS FANTASTIC – As a former French teacher, I came across many ‘singers’, Lincoln, but no one like him – I know he will be famous one day and I will be so proud to say that I knew him when he was a teenager – And that he sang for me – I love him and I wish him the best –
Yes, after 18 years as the co-owner of Beyond Bread’s and 30 years (altogether) as a merchant of OG ( I owned garden catering and Cafe du Bec Fin prior to that) it was hard to say good bye – But Harvey got very sick in November ( he stayed 3 months in the hospital) and I could not keep up with the wholesale part of the business- Too much work – So I decided to call it quit – Harvey recovered and is doing EXTREMELY well. Although we miss the action, we both are retired and LOVING IT –
LOVE TO ALL
Michele
Comment by Michele Edwards — August 26th, 2010 @ 10:09 am