A bakery outlet store that had operated in Vestal for more than three decades has been permanently closed.

Freihofer's Thrift Store on Castle Gardens Road was shut down without advance notice.

Bagels were visible on the shelves of the closed Vestal Freihofer store on March 26, 2024. Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News
Bagels were visible on the shelves of the closed Vestal Freihofer store on March 26, 2024. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
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Company employees were advised of the corporate decision to suddenly close the store on Monday morning.

The move happened so quickly that a wide array of baked goods remained on store shelves on Tuesday.

A sign at the entrance to the Freihofer outlet store in Vestal. Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News
A sign at the entrance to the Freihofer outlet store in Vestal. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
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A sign featuring a smiling Osito - the Bimbo Bakeries bear cub mascot - advised would-be shoppers that "we are permanently closed!" A handwritten sign at the parking lot entrance carried the same message.

Neither sign explained why the store was shut down. A message left at Bimbo Bakeries USA headquarters in Horsham, Pennsylvania was not returned.

A loading dock at the Freihofer thrift store on Castle Gardens Road. Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News
A loading dock at the Freihofer's thrift store on Castle Gardens Road. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
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The Vestal store provided a wide range of day-old baked goods at deeply-discounted prices. It offered Freihofer, Thomas' and other Bimbo Bakeries brands.

The store had been a fixture in Vestal since it opened as part of a 16,000-square-foot warehouse distribution center in September 1989. It's located at the west end of the Vestal rail trail near the Castle Gardens nursing home.

Many more Freihofer Bakery Outlets in New York and other states also were abruptly closed on Monday.

This sign was on display in the parking lot of the closed Freihofer outlet store. Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News
This sign was on display in the parking lot of the closed Freihofer outlet store. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.

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