IT’S the end of an era in Gawler with Prices Bakery closing its doors for good, after owner John Moloney decided to retire this past fortnight after 30 years in business.
The bakery closed early last week, with Mr Moloney eager to move on with the next chapter of his life.
“I just needed a bit of me time, I think,” he said.
“There’ll be a little bit of family time, catch up with the boys, and just do a little bit of travelling around the state.
“It was something I was planning to do…to get out around Christmas time (last year).
“Things went on a little bit longer, so I had to put a date on it.”
After starting the bakery in 1989, Mr Moloney reflected on his time and said he valued each and every one of his customers.
“I think my favourite part was a chance to meet so many people and be able to have a bit of a chat,” he said.
“It was a lot different back then, there wasn’t so many food places around.
“You virtually went from one shop to another, whereas now that sort of atmosphere is dead.
“I suppose it’s progress, but Gawler’s been split up so much with Gawler Green, a lot of people on that side don’t need to come into town.”
Mr Moloney wanted to wish anyone looking to start a bakery these days “good luck”.
“I think it’s getting fairly hard in whatever you do now, you need the right things,” he said.
“I’d lost a lot of enthusiasm at this stage, it needed somebody younger in there now, a bit more spontaneous.
“I’d like to thank everyone for being loyal to me over all the years.”