A much-loved bakery from a prolific Toronto baker is closing down permanently this spring as its owner prepares to embark on a journey across the International Date Line.
Toronto baker Jean Blacklock has been something of a household name in Toronto for some years now, running the sensational Prairie Girl Bakery for a decade before ultimately closing it down in 2021.
As the city reeled from the loss of the widely adored cupcakes, Jean was hard at work with her new-and-improved online concept, Sticky Bakery, which, on top of the cupcakes, serves decadent delights from cakes to cinnamon buns, opening their storefront on St. Clair West in November of 2024.
Suffice it to say, in the years that Sticky Bakery operated as an online bakery and in the months since opening the brick-and-mortar, it has become a sensation, regularly selling out of their goodies within hours of opening.
Despite Jean’s prolific history on Toronto’s pastry scene, along with Sticky Bakery’s unwavering popularity, she shocked faithful patrons this week by announcing that the bakery would soon be closing down — but it’s not for the reason you may think.
While so many beloved local businesses find themselves forced to shutter by rising operational costs or insurmountable rent, Sticky Bakery is actually closing down for a happy reason: Jean and her husband, Andrew, are moving to Australia.
“Earlier this year, an exciting career opportunity for Andrew came his way – in Australia,” Jean writes in the caption of an Instagram post announcing the bakery’s closure. “We have decided to pursue this adventure and therefore we will be closing Sticky Bakery.”
She goes on to explain that, though she’s thrilled about the new opportunity (I mean, who hasn’t had a moment of contemplating moving to Australia in the depths of Toronto winter?) she’s heartbroken to be closing the bakery down.
“For the past 3 years, we have loved owning and operating Sticky, with special highlights including the incredible neighbourhood welcome and support, our loyal Sticky team of So Young, Claire, Jaclyn, Ellie and Jonas, and bringing back Prairie Girl Bakery cupcakes and cakes,” she writes. “It has been a blast!”
The last day in business for the bakery will be May 18 but, Jean says, the bakery’s location is already for sale, so that date could move up depending on the new buyer’s conditions, so be sure to swing by and stock up on treats for Easter and beyond before Toronto bids Jean and Andrew bon voyage.
Sticky Bakery is located at 621 St. Clair West.
