Hesh's Kosher Bakery Closed in Philly

Hesh's Bakery, a Northeast Philadelphia kosher bakery, in the Rhawnhurst section of town, known for its butter cookies and chocolate-chip pound cake, closed over the weekend after more than a half-century in business, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

A message posted outside the bakery read, in a seemingly rushed style: "It is with a very sad and heavy heart to tell you that Hesh's Bakery is now closed and will not be reopening. We thank you for your patronage. We will miss you."

The store had been open since 1959. Longtime customers who heard of the sudden closing rushed to the scene Sunday "to investigate."

Helen Fanning, 56, who grew up in Rhawnhurst, told the Inquirer she relied on Hesh's for everything "from doughnuts on Sunday to birthday cakes to graduation cakes." She recalled snacking on butter cookies on the way home from school as a girl. Later, when Fanning had her first child, a friend brought Hesh's cookies to the hospital.

Obviously, with customers coming in that infrequently, it's no wonder they had to close.