A block away from our home lies a little shop named “Altitude Bakery”. Until about a year ago, this was run by a gentleman named Dennis Findlay, and produced sumptuous snacks. Then, he sold the store to someone else.
At first, not much changed, other than the loss of a friendly and familiar face. The menu remained mostly the same. But gradually, things started to get worse. The business hours shortened; it was no longer open during the early or late dog-walking hours. A regular customer, arriving literally within a minute outside the posted closing/opening hours, could not get any attention from the staff in plain view. Then the the prices started increasing.
Then the worst of all: the product has started to decline in quality. The recipes must have gotten simplified, tasty ingredients omitted, shortcuts taken. The “eat more drug” has left the building. Cheesecakes are mellow, damply sweet instead of tangy. Tortes are sometimes overbaked, and the icing became just plain sugar/butter filler. Croissants barely flake, and subtleties are gone.
The only thing still heavenly there are their Linzer squares. And at least the prices still include tax and are rounded to multiples of $0.25.
Come back, Dennis!