Hope for Johnson County bakery fans: It’s closing, but a new owner could take over

Great Harvest bakery has operated in the metro for more than 40 years. So when the current franchisees said they were closing the Prairie Village shop, their fans were dismayed.

Now the Dillon, Montana-based Great Harvest Franchising Inc. is hoping to sign a new franchisee for the spot.

Sarah and Brian Berlin purchased the current location — in Corinth Square at 4002 W. 83rd St., Prairie Village — in 2015. They plan to close at the end of business on May 11. The bakery has operated at other metro locations since fall 1981.

In a statement, Mike Ferretti, CEO/chairman of the board for Great Harvest Franchising, said: “The announcement from the owners that they planned to close the doors was a shocking one to us. This store has had (a) long run of success in Prairie Village and the thought that an owner would close this location rather than try and sell is very surprising.”

In a follow-up phone interview Wednesday, he added: “That’s one of our most iconic locations. That’s a salable store and a viable business for somebody. To me the most important thing is they have to be passionate about the business.”

People interested in the franchise can call Ben Green, director of sales, at 757-348-5592.

The company was founded in Great Falls, Montana, in 1976 and started franchising in 1979. It began converting from a bread bakery to a bakery cafe in the early 2000s.

It currently has about 180 locations in 39 states, including one in Lawrence under different owners. They offer a variety of freshly baked breads, along with soups, salads and sandwiches.

This story was originally published April 27, 2022 at 10:31 AM.