Brookline, Massachusetts — A beloved neighborhood bakery that helped generations of families celebrate birthdays, graduations, weddings, and countless other milestones has officially closed its doors after 35 years, marking the end of a cherished chapter in Brookline’s Coolidge Corner community.
On the bakery’s final day, loyal customers lined up outside before opening, hoping to purchase one last cake, browse clearance items, and personally thank the owners who had become a familiar part of their lives for more than three decades.
Community Turns Out for Emotional Farewell
For many customers, Party Favors was more than just a bakery—it was where family traditions began.
Longtime patrons waited patiently outside the shop on Friday, many reflecting on decades of birthdays and celebrations made memorable by the bakery’s signature cakes.
“It’s sad. It’s sad that these places are leaving,” one loyal customer, Dallas, said while waiting in line.
Former employee Hailey Guzman admitted the closure was difficult to accept.
“Breaks my heart, for sure.”
The final day became less about shopping and more about expressing gratitude to the owners and staff who had served the community for generations.
Owners Say the Decision Wasn’t Easy
Owners John and Mary Lynn Pergantis acknowledged that closing the business was an emotional decision after spending 35 years building relationships with local families.
John Pergantis admitted he would deeply miss coming to the bakery every day.
“I’m really gonna miss not being here. But time is time.”
Mary Lynn said they had been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from customers.
“We’re really touched and really caught off guard by how much it means to people to have us here.”
The heartfelt response, they said, reminded them how closely their business had become woven into the community.
Post-Pandemic Changes Made Business Difficult
According to the owners, changing consumer habits after the COVID-19 pandemic played a major role in the decision to close.
Party Favors operated as both a bakery and a party supply store, but that business model became increasingly difficult to sustain.
Mary Lynn explained that while customers still stopped by to collect cakes for special occasions, many no longer browsed the party supplies that once generated additional sales.
Without those extra purchases, maintaining the longtime business became increasingly challenging despite the bakery’s loyal customer base.
Generations of Families Shared Their Memories
Customers described Party Favors as a place tied to some of life’s happiest moments.
One longtime customer recalled that every first birthday cake in their family came from the bakery, a tradition that continued across children and grandchildren.
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Others filled shopping baskets with discounted decorations and keepsakes during the store’s final clearance sale.
Customer Cecilia Amendola laughed as she stocked up on decorations for upcoming birthday celebrations, saying many of her friends were about to turn 30 years old.
Former employees also returned to say goodbye, describing the bakery as a workplace that quickly became a second family.
Hailey Guzman said what began as a job eventually became much more meaningful because of the close relationships formed with both coworkers and customers.
A New Chapter May Still Be Ahead
Although the storefront has now closed, the Pergantises say they hope to continue baking cakes in the future.
Supporters have already launched a GoFundMe campaign aimed at helping the couple continue doing what they love beyond the closure of their longtime business.
For now, however, the owners remain focused on completing their remaining cake orders while reflecting on 35 years of memories, celebrations, and community connections that made Party Favors a Brookline institution.
Have you ever had a favorite local bakery or family-owned business close its doors? Share your favorite memories and let us know which hometown shops you’ll never forget in the comments below.
