HONOLULU — Vintage Love’s Bakery aloha shirts, signs, equipment, leftover ingredients and some baked goods are being auctioned off after the closure of the state’s oldest and largest commercial bakery.
HONOLULU — Vintage Love’s Bakery aloha shirts, signs, equipment, leftover ingredients and some baked goods are being auctioned off after the closure of the state’s oldest and largest commercial bakery.
Hawaii News Now reported Oahu Auctions has opened online bidding for the items. The auction will take place in multiple phases, with the first phase ending on Saturday.
The company, which had been in business for 170 years, told state and federal agencies last month that it would close its doors and lay off more than 230 employees. The company said it was behind on rent, couldn’t secure additional capital and hadn’t qualified for the second round of federal Paycheck Protection Program funds aimed at helping companies struggling during the pandemic.
It also experienced major delays from mainland suppliers for ingredients and parts for the company’s aging equipment.
The auction features several old aloha shirt uniforms, including one with the company’s trademark red gingham pattern and pictures of bread loaves.
Love’s Bakery was started in 1851 by a Scottish baker who specialized in “re-baking” bread delivered from sailing ships.
The baker weathered outbreaks of the bubonic plague in the early 1900s and two world wars.
