'After all these years': Christies Mayfair Bakery celebrates 90th anniversary
When Ennio Muzzolini walked into Christies Mayfair Bakery in 1965 interested in purchasing the small bakery on 33rd Street, he never imagined he’d one day be looking on as hundreds of people lined the block to get their hands on a baguette, cinnamon bun or wood-fired pizza.
Back then he was just trying to keep the business afloat.
“How can I explain it?” he said at the bakery’s 90th anniversary celebrations Saturday.
“We had no money, we didn’t know anything. I knew that I could work, but in the very beginning we had some hard times. We survived. We made it and we appreciate what the people have done for us.”
Saturday marked the company’s street party, where entertainment, pizza and plenty of other baked goods delighted the many dozens of customers.
Muzzolini bought the bakery from the Christies brothers, who originally opened the bakery in 1932.
“Unbelievable. After all these years I don’t believe it. What else can I say?” he said, looking at the all the people who came to celebrate. “It’s awesome.”
Ninety years later, the family business now run by Tracy and Blair Muzzolini, Ennio’s children, rung in the milestone with a street party fit for a Saskatoon staple that has grown to mean so much to many in the area.
“Our family, our friends, our staff, we’re hard working people. We work together to solve problems, we preserve and we overcome – and that’s why we’re here today,” Tracy said.
With endless stories of multi-decade and even multi-generation customers, the family never gets tired of hearing about customers that met at Christies during a first date or people who only trust the Muzzolini’s with all the baking for every special occasion.
More than anything, the Muzzolini’s love going to work every day.
“Making bread, making pastries, making pizza is one of my favourite things, and the people that come together to work for us and work with us share the same passion for good food,” Tracey said.
While it may be easy to look ahead to the next 90 years, Tracey knows the same approach is required that got Christies to its 90th year anniversary if it hopes to stand the test of time.
“Just think of every hurdle as just another problem to solve because that’s really what it adds up to is just a bunch of problem solving day after day … and just take it day by day,” Tracey said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.