By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
OLEAN — The last loaf of bread came off the line at the Stroehmann Bakery on North Second Street late Wednesday morning.
It was part of an order of sliced white bread for Wegman’s. The plant’s flour silos — white and wheat are empty. The plant’s more than100-year-old history as a bakery has come to an end. The building was constructed in 1915.
The bakery’s 80 employees will continue to be paid until Nov. 2, according to one employee who asked not to be named. A severance package of a week’s pay for each year of service was offered to employees, he said.
Calls to the plant’s administrative office Wednesday and Thursday were not returned.
The company brought in the 716 Food Truck for the first and second shifts to provide food for employees.
Since the last bread had come off the bagging line around noon, second shift employees were told to get their things and they could go home, according to the employee, a man in his mid-50s who has worked at the bakery for more than 10 years.
The employee said photos from over the years were on display at the plant. They are expected to be donated to the Olean Historical Society.
One of the slicers still in use was built in 1937, according to a small sign welded to its frame.
“It caught everybody by surprise when they announced the closing back in July,” the employee said. “It sucks losing a good job here.” He has applied to several local employers including Great Lakes Cheese in Franklinville.
Employees have been tossing around ideas that included Bimbo Bakeries retooling the Olean plant and make bread here again someday, the employee said. Newer, more efficient equipment would mean fewer people, he added.
According to Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency Director Corey Wiktor, at least one company has expressed interest in the bakery building. He did not say what type of company had looked at the building, but that it was interested in the location.
Also in July, Bimbo Bakeries announced the closing of a second New York plant in Auburn.
The bread-making formerly done at the Olean bakery will now be done at a Bimbo plant in Sayre, Pa.
