SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — With the holiday season in full swing, local bakeries across Central New York are putting in long hours to meet the surge in demand for seasonal favorites.
At Lyncourt Bakery in Syracuse, the weeks leading up to the holidays are among the busiest of the year. Owners and staff arrive early, work late and carefully prepare the breads and pastries customers have come to rely on year after year.
For owner Dawn Mignacca, the pressure of the season is balanced by the reward of working alongside family. The bakery has been a staple in the Syracuse community since the 1950s, and Mignacca said family involvement plays a key role in keeping the operation steady during the most demanding time of year.
“Around the holidays, it’s crazy, so you want people you know you can depend on and that are going to show up,” Mignacca said. “So it kind of works out a little better when it is family.”
She said the connection between the bakery and the community is something she values deeply, especially when longtime customers return with their children and grandchildren to carry on holiday traditions. Mignacca said that consistency — being open when customers expect it most — is part of what keeps people coming back.
“In the summertime, people walk here. We’re open on the holidays, so they can get fresh bread, fresh doughnuts,” she said.
In Utica, Florentine Pastry Shop is experiencing a similar seasonal rush. The shop has been serving customers for more than 90 years and remains rooted in the same family-focused approach that built its reputation.
“It feels good to know that we’re all together here and work really hard,” said owner Deborah Alesia.
Like Lyncourt Bakery, Florentine Pastry Shop said the strength of a small, family-run business lies in its close relationships with customers. Owners said knowing the people they serve — their routines, families and traditions — transforms everyday transactions into personal connections that last for decades.
Mignacca emphasized the importance of shopping small during the holiday season, saying community support is what allows businesses like hers to continue operating and pass family traditions on to future generations.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, consumers typically increase their share of “food at home” purchases in November and December, reflecting a shift toward home-cooked meals and gatherings rather than dining out.
Lyncourt Bakery is located at 2205 Teall Ave., Syracuse, and is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. The bakery is cash only and does not take orders online. For more information, call (315) 463-5121.
Florentine Pastry Shop is located at 667 Bleecker St., Utica, and is open Wednesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Monday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The shop is closed Tuesday. Orders must be placed by phone during business hours at (315) 724-8032.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Family bakeries lean on tradition to meet holiday rush
Kaitlin Campbell: As the holiday shoppers fill the streets, bakers are behind the scenes, supplying the treats that keep the community celebrating.
Dawn Mignacca: “Just everyday is fun… you know when you’re working with family…”
Campbell: At Lyncourt Bakery, Dawn Mignacca knows the holiday pace well. They’ve been celebrating the season since the 1950s, and family is what keeps it all running.
Mignacca: “Around the holidays… it’s crazy. So you want people that you know you can depend on and that are going to show up. So it kind of works out a little better when it is family.”
Campbell: She says she wouldn’t have it any other way — and she loves seeing generations come through the door.
Mignacca: “In the summertime, people walk here. We’re open on the holidays so they can get fresh bread, fresh donuts.”
Campbell: 50 miles east in Utica, Florentine Bakery has been open for more than 90 years — also committed to keeping family traditions strong.
Deborah Alesia: “It feels good to know that we’re all together here and working really hard.”
Campbell: They say that being a local business allows them to connect with community members better, and each time a customer walks in, they leave as family.
Alesia: “We know that we know our customers better than anybody that came from any other place would know them.”
Campbell: This season, bakeries are encouraging communities to support local.
Mignacca: “You know, support your local places, because if you don’t, they’re going to close up and then, you know, especially now, everybody’s online — this stuff you can’t get online. You know…”
Campbell: Support that helps them continue their legacy for years to come. In Syracuse, Kaitlin Campbell, NCC News.