Beloved Bake Shop in Missoula Announces Closure After 27 Years

It's been a little while since we've reported on a business closing in Missoula, but last night we saw on social media that a well-loved business in Missoula has announced they will be closing.

Black Cat Bake Shop started as a bakery known for its Stollen bread that they sold at Missoula's Farmer's Market, according to the history on the shop's website. With time and growth, they opened at 2000 West Broadway in 2010. The name comes from Chef Jack Wich's motto when he taught at the New England Culinary Institute.

He often told stories about his little black cat called 'Katie'--also referred to as his 'first child'--that was adopted from the local humane society. Jack felt that this cat was truly 'perfect and wonderful.' When his students were able to make 20-30 different items perfectly, he would call that a 'Black Cat Day.' - blackcatbakeshop.com

 

Black Cat Bake Shop shared on Facebook that they will be permanently closing on Saturday, August 31 but will have regular hours until then. The news spread quickly across multiple social media platforms.

Fans reminisced about the cat head biscuits, the gluten-free doughnuts, and of course, the Stollen.

READ MORE: 13 Missoula Businesses That Closed in 2023

On a personal note, today is my husband's birthday and it was exactly a year ago today that he and I visited the Black Cat Bake Shop for delicious treats to celebrate his birthday. It's heartbreaking to write this story today, but I appreciate having a warm memory of the bake shop in light of its closure.