Swiss Maid Bakery to close Harvard location

The Stricker family has decided to close Harvard’s Swiss Maid Bakery only weeks after shutting down the Woodstock location, an owner announced on social media earlier this week.

“It is with great sadness that we have come to the difficult decision to close the Harvard location of Swiss Maid Bakery on Saturday,” Laura Stricker wrote in a social media post. “For over 76 years, Swiss Maid Bakery has had the privilege of serving the best breads, cakes, pastries and sweets in the area. ... We are sincerely grateful to the local citizens, businesses, churches and schools for their faithful and continued support.”

The store has been open in Harvard since 1968, but the family business dates back to the 1920s. The Strickers sold the business to Kevin Olesen last year. Olesen is a fourth-generation baker whose family owns bakeries in Wisconsin.

Olesen handed over his keys and walked out earlier this month, Paul Stricker said. He also said the shop was in poor condition, which led to the decision to close.

Now the Harvard shop will follow for the same reasons, the owners said.

“Following the attempt to turn the business over to another owner in 2018, the Harvard and Woodstock bakeries were unexpectedly returned to the Stricker family in a state of disrepair,” Laura Stricker said in her social media post. “We have been left with no choice but to close the doors.”

The store, 104 E. Brainard St., will be open during regular business hours through Saturday.