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Ecklof Bakery Offering Goods At Warren Market

From left, Rick and Suzan Ecklof, co-owners of Ecklof Bakery, along with their son Chad. Last month, Ecklof Bakery, located at 832 Foote Ave., Jamestown, started offering a selection of pastries at Pellegrino’s Italian Market, located at 449 Conewango Ave., Warren, Pa. P-J photo by Gavin Paterniti

WARREN, P.A., — For decades, Warren shoppers have traveled to Jamestown for fresh baked goods at Ecklof Bakery.

Now they won’t have to leave town for them.

Last month, Ecklof Bakery, located at 832 Foote Ave., Jamestown, started offering a selection of pastries at Pellegrino’s Italian Market, located at 449 Conewango Ave., Warren, Pa.

Years ago, it seemed like there was a bakery on every street corner. However, as time passed, bakeries disappeared and grocery stores took over.

”My grandfather came over from Sweden in the 1920s and started working at Ideal Bakery in Warren,” said Rick Ecklof, who is the general manager of the bakery. ”Now, we’re the last retail bakery in the Warren-Jamestown area. There used to be eight in Jamestown alone.”

He said his bakers, who include his son, have ”120 to 130 years of baking experience making great products. I was trained basically by old Swedish bakers that came over from Sweden.”

The recipes used by the Ecklof bakers have a history as well.

”All of our stuff is handmade daily at the shop from the original, traditional recipes that were handed down from my grandfather to my father, then to me, and my son will be taking over when I retire,” Ecklof said.

Tom Pellegrino, owner of Pellegrino’s, said he and Ecklof share similar ideas.

”He and I have the luxury of being passionate to our customers,” Pellegrino said. ”Our philosophies are identical. What we are going to try to do together is bring beautiful traditional Swedish pastries to the demographics of Warren. It helps us bring the gamut of foods from sandwiches to desserts. The biggest thing is how our families have parallels in work ethics, share the same American Dream, and understanding what it takes. And we’re both fourth-generation families in our businesses.”

While Pellegrino’s cannot realistically carry all of Ecklof’s products on a daily basis, patrons can custom order their favorite baked goods and pick them up later.

Selection of available pastries at Pellegrino’s will be based on customer demand.

”We’re going to start out with a limited number of products, and have Tom (Pellegrino) evaluate what the customers want,” Ecklof said.

”The demographics will show us what our customers want,” Pellegrino said.

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