Celebrating a big part of bakery history



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Tucked away on Oamaru’s Eden St is a sweet piece of family history.

For the past 70 years, three generations of the Greaney family have been behind the counter at Peter Pan Bakery and Cafe, and have earned a loyal local and national following for their cream donuts, custard squares, cakes and other baked goods.

John Greaney took over the business from his father, Kevin, 34 years ago, but it has been a family affair since ” the Tuesday after work weekend ” in 1950 when Kevin bought a small bakery on Thames St, formerly owned from Cleverley’s Bakery. .

He had been working at Cleverley’s for about a year, and three or four of his colleagues followed him as he branched out on his own.

About four years later, Kevin bought McPhersons Bakery at the corner of Tees and Wansbeck Sts and that was used as a bakery.

It had a charcoal oven, which they baked for a long time.

In the early 1980s, the bakery was moved from Thames St to Eden St and, in 2004, operations were combined into one site on Eden St, where the bakery and cafe are today.

He was proud of the legacy he and his father had built, and his best memories were with the community.

The bakery had several different types of “regulars”, from those who came every Friday for their potato pie to the travelers who showed up as they passed through town.

John’s four children and his wife Sharon, Kieran, Regan, and twins Alyssa and Breanna, had worked there over the years, but it was unlikely that either of them would take over the business.

“It’s a good kind of business, but it’s very labor intensive,” John said.

” I can’t believe I’m still doing what I’m doing at this age, to be fair. ”

There will be various celebrations at the bakery next week, including birthday cake, prizes, and daily specials.

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