By Abigael T. Sidi
“Probably a good half.” According to my parents, that’s the number of birthday cakes Silver Moon Bakery prepared for me in the 16 years since I was born. To me, the bakery’s permanent closing yesterday wasn’t just another casualty along the seemingly cursed stretch of Broadway between West 105th and 110th streets.
This one was personal. A dagger.
Silver Moon announced earlier this month that it would permanently close on March 23, done in by a tangled dispute with the landlord that ended up in court. Heading there on Sunday, the final day of operation, I felt like I was going to my first funeral. Outside, other Silver Moon fans waited patiently in line – a quiet procession which, at times, stretched all the way to the hardware store near the corner of West 106th Street.
The line included grieving long-timers as well as stunned, more recent customers.
“We’ve been coming here probably since it opened” in 2000, said Upper West Sider Jennifer H., who has lived in the neighborhood since the 1990s. “Every weekend they make hazelnut sourdough – only on the weekends – which is a really delicious bread. So, if they have it [today], I’m gonna buy two and put one in the freezer and dream about Silver Moon in the future.”
Like many others, in line, Jennifer was clinging to hopes that Silver Moon will somehow resurrect. “What I’m secretly hoping is that the Absolute Bagels site [another recent retail closure in the neighborhood] might be reasonable and then they might move in there.”
Asked what her favorite Silver Moon items were, Samantha Antoniette, who joined the line with her husband, toddler, and baby, said: “I would always get the olive bread. I would give [my son] cheese puffs. And I love the madeleines.” Antoniette recalled coming to Silver Moon after the birth of her first child. “A group of moms and I would come and meet here and have a really amazing time… it was kind of early days of motherhood, which are really hard, so Silver Moon has a really special place in my heart.”
Another mom in the line, Yael Gareen, said her son was a fourth generation Silver Moon customer. “I’ve been coming for 24 years with my grandparents,” she said. “They already passed, but given they were just a block away, we would come at least once a week, sit on the benches, enjoy all their yummy stuff.” Like others, Gareen said she planned to stock up on some favorites – maybe the chocolate brioche and chocolate whole wheat scone – and freeze them for the Silver Moon-less future.
Silver Moon owner Judith Norell was on hand Sunday to talk with customers and reporters.
“I’m very moved and touched by all the people who are coming to say goodbye,” she said. Along with the piles of emails and handwritten messages she’s received from the bakery’s many fans, “somebody dropped off flowers at my apartment.”
Norell said many of the bakers and pastry people at Silver Moon have worked there more than 20 years. “I’m trying to find jobs for everyone because we’ve really been a family,” she said. “I hope someone will come in from the neighborhood to take our place, or someone who will have the same vision. Small businesses is what makes New York my home.”
As she talked, a young man joined the conversation to reveal that Norell had baked his wedding cake – and it was not a small one. “It was for 400 people,” he said.
Another man, John Burke, said he had come by early morning train from Philadelphia to say goodbye to Silver Moon.
“I heard yesterday that it was your last day,” he told Norell. “I’ll take anything with ‘Silver Moon’ on it. If they take down your awning, I’ll take it,” he said.
Just around the corner from the Silver Moon entrance, facing south on West 105th Street, is the place I’ve always loved to go to devour favorite pastries while basking in the sun. A few customers were already there, sharing bakery memories and decrying the demise of other nearby businesses: Garden of Eden, Absolute Bagels, Shakespeare & Co.
It was a bright, cold, late-March day on Broadway and West 105th Street. Phone numbers and selfies were shared left and right. There was hope that the community would endure. One way or the other.
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We are losing so many bakeries and bagel shops on the Upper UWS.
UWS quality of life just took another hit.
we just need to VOTE BETTER ! These WOKE policies have taken away our bakeries or whatever. Must be Biden’s fault somehow. [Insert additional tiresome comment here]
This is the dumbest comment. Biden is not president right now. It’s predatory rent prices that are to blame. We need renters rights.
Voting has nothing to do with it
I get where you’re coming from, but this seems a little unfair as a response to this comment.
Outrageous, and you can’t help but feel completely hopeless and helpless for the city’s future.
Because our future rested on a tiny bakery? I’ll alert Wall Street.
👀
Do try not to be a jerk. Our future as a vibrant, unique community rests on it containing unique businesses like Silver Moon that are being driven out of one by one. If all we have are chain stores and empty buildings then why spend a small fortune to live here?
It sounds like you haven’t noticed that we also have world-class museums, parks and architecture here on the UWS. Oh, and the people are (mostly) pretty nice as well.
TWENTY-FIVE (@%) YEARS. I cannot believe it. My favorite foodstuffs ranged from the seeded ficelles to the chocolate-mocha Opera Cake (+++) ! Perhaps the ultimate was the Paris-Brest pastry….a rare entry for any establishment.(Created in Belle Epoque France honoring a Bicycle race….I had it twice) . At the time of the 2000 AD opening I planted a peony at the behest of Judith Norell. It was originally shell pink but has since flourished in pure white … It continues to bloom at 105th and B’Way on the mall every June.
Thank you Judith….Peace to all
For those looking for a new place to grab pastries in the morning, plugging D’Lioz bakery, just around the corner between 105 and 106 on Amsterdam. It’s run by a very nice father-daughter duo, and their pastries are fresh and tasty.
I went there. Nothing like SMB. Pastries are too sweet.
I disagree. The pastries at D’Lioz are delicious. I like the scones. They have sandwiches and tacos and many other things. Give it a try. And the owner is very friendly.
The body isn’t even cold yet!!!!
this is just obscene at this point. I agree with the commenter above that hopelessness has set in. Who the h@@@ is the rep for this part of the upper UWS? How is he/she allowing this to happen. They’re useless at this point
I am not sure what power. a local council member has in this situation. But I agree with you it’s totally obscene.
The council member has received contributions from real estate interests, which may affect their ability to fully support tenants facing business losses.
A good long standing tenant is better than gambling on a replacement or throwing in the towel to sell to someone to redevelop the corner. Jane Jacobs is rolling in her grave.
A serious loss. They made my beautiful wedding cake in 2012. Still the best wedding cake I have ever eaten, anywhere.
This is awful. (Just waiting for the “whatever IS, is RIGHT” crowd to roll into the comments…)
Dear Abigail,
Your article was beautiful; thank you for painting the atmosphere that we all felt on Sunday, our last day of baking at Silver Moon. Everyone working put their whole heart and soul into our last weekend; we baked more breads, cakes, tarts, breakfast treats, etc. than we ever had before in one day. And it was all done with a full heart.
The customer who told you that we had baked his 400 guest wedding cake was Daniel O’Donnell, our recently retired New York State Assemblyman. Danny is a good friend, and was a great rep. for our community in Albany for many years.
With warm wishes,
Judith
Dear Judith: thank you for your comment on my column, and thank you for taking the time to speak with me. You and everyone at Silver Moon will always be in my heart, a permanent childhood memory. Fingers crossed that SMB will come back, in one form or the other. Abby
I am truly devastated and I know I’m far from alone. I have been buying and eating your delectable baked goods for decades and there is now an unfillable hole in my kitchen, my belly, and my heart!
Thank you!!! I was there every day…all week. I’m devastated
Impressive writing for a 16 year old contributor!
I hate to see any small business close it’s door but to be honest I wasn’t a fan of this bakery so I won’t miss it. I still miss all the small mom and pop stores that used to be on the upper west side before gentrification and Columbia University massive expansion
Silver Moon also had the best coffee in the neighborhood! I’ll be dreaming of their currant scones forever. It really is so sad.
The landlord of the whole block is one to google. His son is opening a weed shop in the space next door, word is the landlord wants to open his own bakery in the Silvermoon spot. He is a slumlord. And the Silvermoon bakers brother.
Thank you for this well-deserved recognition for our favorite and already missed bakery 🙁
Abigail it was a great pleasure to meet your lovely parents. We did take selfies with another young lady that was drawn to our conversation reminiscing about Silver Moon and the history of our beloved neighborhood. This is yet another example of greedy landlords who rather close up an establishment and collect money … yes, it’s a scam that should be investigated. Having all these great places close affects quality of life and also attracts vagrants and crime. Your article now is a historical gem of the Upper West Side that will be read years from now by historians. So thank you so much! And wait; you’re 16! Awesome work and keep up the good work in journalism 🏆👈🏼
We need to vote for candidates who will prioritize and protect local businesses. Simple! Ask the candidates in the upcoming election cycle what their plan is to support small businesses.