Fiona Boylan, owner of the COBs Bread outlet at 1539 Bayview Ave. has celebrated the fifth anniversary of her franchise with a thoroughgoing renovation that has enlarged and modernized the location. The store re-opened last Saturday after three weeks of furious work. In the middle of work, with the shop pretty much gutted, it was occasionally possible to witness a kind of panic in the street as customers incorrectly assumed the store was closing. Such is the indispensable quality for many of this luscious bread. Most noticeable in the renovated store is the larger reception and sales area. Doors have been brought forward to align with the rest the storefront. The bread-buying space is now much larger. New LED lights and cabinets grace the inside. Sumayyah Desai of the COBs Leaside staff chronicled the excitement of the opening hours. The Hot Cross Bun special that day with butter and strawberry jam added a buzz and excitement, Sumayyah recalled. There were gift bags of COBs bread and other goodies and an appearance by the store’s mascot Breadhead, courtesy of Fiona’s three-year-old son Max. Fiona Boylan talked about the appeal of the bread business as it’s conceived by the Australian parent company. She liked the idea of a franchise with such a stable firm. And a bakery is a happy business she observed. It is indeed hard not to like being inside a COBs bakery. Fiona found the neighborhood appealing (of course) recalling that many residents of Leaside have cottages at Midland’s Wymbolwood Beach, as do she and her husband. The original COBs opened ten years ago and was operated as a corporate location until Fiona became the franchisee. She is a strong supporter of the new Bayview BIA and most merchants would have to agree that COBs now ranks among South Bayview’s most compelling anchors. A final note, the South Bayview Bulldog is honoured and proud to count COBs among its advertising sponsors beginning this month. Photos: Left to right, Ryan and Anne Marie are ready to rock the Grand Re-opening, Max, 3, as COBs mascot Breadhead, Fiona Boylan, owner
