Norris Bakery closing its doors Nov. 20 (update)

A long-standing bakery in Kitchener is closing its doors.

On Friday, a staff member confirmed to CityNews 570 that Norris Bakery will be closed as of Saturday, November 20.

They were unable to confirm further details, but a request has been made to speak with the owners.

According to its website, Norris Bakery was established in 1943.

Rumours of the closure began circulating when items at the bakery went up for auction. 

A spokesperson with the Ministry of Transportation confirms to CityNews 570 that the ministry requires a portion of the property at 460 Frederick Street for the construction of the Highway 7 underpass in Kitchener.

“Ontarians don’t deserve to sit in gridlock for hours on end. Unlike the previous Liberals, our government is committed to moving forward with the new 4-lane Highway 7 and has been doing so in a phased approach. Our government completed Phase One of this project in June 2019. For the next phase of work, the Request for Proposals (RFP) closed for the Design-Build contract to replace the Highway 7 Frederick Street underpass in Kitchener. The Design-Build contract ​for this work is scheduled to be awarded in January 2022, with construction expected to begin following detail design, later in 2022.

For large transportation infrastructure projects, like the Highway 7 expansion, land assembly is necessary and often unavoidable. With all projects, it is only properties that are deemed absolutely necessary for construction that are acquired. Expropriation is a backstop measure only. Our goal, first and foremost, is to ​protect the rights of property owners and negotiate the acquisition of properties on a willing buyer, willing seller basis.

In the case of Phase 2 of the Highway 7 Expansion project, the Ministry requires a portion of the property located at 460 Frederick Street for the construction of the Highway 7 Frederick Street underpass in Kitchener. Ministry officials have been working collaboratively with the property owner to negotiate mutually agreeable terms and as these conversations are ongoing, we can’t say much more on this matter at this time.  

This project continues to be a priority for our government, knowing the relief it will bring for drivers in the region, while increasing connectivity for the fast-growing urban centres of Kitchener, Waterloo and Guelph.”