After making a go of it for more than two years, the owner of Crumb Grabbers Bakery, 492 W. Cedar St., has closed its storefront.

Owner Linda Engeseth said she closed the business at the corner of Cedar Street and Fifth Avenue on March 21 because there wasn’t enough business to keep it open.

Crumb Grabbers opened Feb. 13, 2012, after the prompting of friends and customers that she needed to open a store, Engeseth said.

“Why not? It seemed like a good idea,” she said.

When business began to decline, Engeseth said she tried holiday promotions, advertising and adding to the menu and an outdoor seating area.

“It’s bittersweet,” she said. “We really enjoyed what we were doing there.”

Now a month after closing, Engeseth said she’s going to miss the store and the company of her customers.

“Most of them were absolutely wonderful,” she said.

City problems

In February 2013, the Gazette reported difficulties between Engeseth and the City of Sequim.

City officials asked her to pay about $17,000 in impact fees before opening because she converted the building into a bakery. The fee, officials said, would help pay for the burden of new businesses’ impact, i.e. traffic and water and sewer on the area. However after many discussions Engeseth worked out an agreement not to pay the fee and to close her business by 4 p.m. before a supposed increased traffic flow.

One year later, she told City Manager Steve Burkett that the limited hours were negatively affecting Crumb Grabbers and she asked for an extension. He told her to do what made sense for her so she stayed open later and Engeseth said business was a little better.

Another focus

For loyal and possible new customers, Engeseth said she’s not done baking though and plans to reopen the business from her home’s commercial kitchen nearby for special baked goods orders and catering.

She hopes to be up and running by mid-May.

Engeseth worked with two other employees, which she might work with at the Sequim Farmers Market and Sequim Lavender Festival and a possible catering service.

She’s also considering a lunch delivery service but another storefront seems out of the picture.

When the kitchen reopens, gift certificates still will be honored.

“I am really excited about getting out there and selling again,” Engeseth said.

For more information about Crumb Grabbers Bakery reopening, call 360-402-6585 or visit www.crumbgrabbersbakery.com or Facebook.com/CrumbGrabbersBakery.