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Quad City bakery closing after half a century of sweet treats

ROCK ISLAND, Illinois-Leo’s Southpark Bakery in Rock Island is closing after 50 years in business, an end of an era for owner Leo Simmons and his customer...

ROCK ISLAND, Illinois-Leo's Southpark Bakery in Rock Island is closing after 50 years in business, an end of an era for owner Leo Simmons and his customers.

"January 13th, 1966. I opened up on Friday the 13th. It was lucky for me," said Simmons, who said he is reluctantly retiring at the urging of his daughter.

For Simmons it's meant half-a-century of coming to work at one in the morning, and leaving at one in the afternoon.

"Sometimes I never leave," said Simmons,  who has a bedroom in the back of the bakery.

He says the long hours cost him a marriage.

"She didn't understand it," he said. And, business went south about 20 years ago, when big box stores started selling baked goods.

"It really cut into my cake business," he said.

But this week, his loyal customers are buying up their favorites, before the finale on Saturday.

"It's sad, it's awful. We've loved it here for years and years," said one customer, who was buying her favorite white cake. "It is the best", she said.

Generations of sweet-toothed Quad Citians are fans of Southpark. Barb Garrett's daughter saw the news on Facebook, and called her mom at 7 this morning.

"She lives in Washington State, and said mom, he's closing and I won't have anymore pie crust cookies," said Garrett.

Simmons says he is closing, but not selling, and left open the possibility of maybe re-opening for a couple days a week down the road.

But soon the 12-hour days of baking will be over, he says he will restore some old cars, and take it easy.

Still, bittersweet. Even for Leo.

"Even I get emotional. Here, take this. It's braided peanut butter coffee cake. You'll like it."

 

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