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When the holidays roll around in a few weeks, it won’t be longtime entrepreneurs R. Heath and Jacqueline Lachman preparing gingerbread houses and sugar cookies for Topps' countless patrons, after they opted to step away and sell the bakery to a privately held company.
Although it will be under new management, the Lachman’s assured the community that Thatcher Food Holdings - which focuses on specialty food retail from an experienced team - will maintain the quality of service and goods that customers have come to expect the last 10 years. Thatcher plans on changing the logo, but the menu will remain similar, with their own unique spin on things for their patrons.
“We worked really hard to make sure that (the buyers’) vision aligned perfectly with the community, because Topps is in the fabric of the community. It’s important not to let some things completely change,” Jacqueline said.
“We definitely were only interested in selling to someone who will keep the vision,” R. Heath added. “Bronxville would not be the same without Topps bakery. There’s a lot of bakeries in Westchester, and each is unique to where it is, and it would be awfully difficult to replicate this.”
Since opening up shop a decade ago, the Lachman’s stressed how important the community has been in encouraging Topp’s growth and expansion since they took over as the just the fourth family to own the bakery's 80-year history.
“We never missed any of the big Halloween celebrations, whether giving out candy or coupons to kids and water to the parents in the crowd. We’ve made Memorial Day floats five or six times. It’s pretty amazing to be a part of this town as a parent and business owner,” Jacqueline added. “This is small town USA. The diversity of the stops and shops here really make it a wonderful place to be.”
Though many will miss the smell of fresh bread wafting from the Lachman’s ovens at Topps during the holiday season, the pair are ready to pass the torch after working arduous hours, seven days a week for the past decade.
“It’s a good time to leave; our vision has come to fruition,” Heath said. “We’ve done everything that we set out to do 10 years ago, and then some, so it’s time for someone else to carry that ball and further it.
“I feel like in my heart that we’ve done everything we can to bring this bakery to where it is, and like any great athlete, we want our time to end on a high.”
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