By Jennifer Edwards
Enquirer staff writer

Kelly Albainy-Jenei of Anderson Township buys cookies Thursday with her daughter, Miriam, 2, from Chris Huber at Mount Washington Bakery. The bakery, which has been open since 1927, will close Saturday unless there is a last-minute buyer. The Enquirer/STEVEN M. HERPPICH

MOUNT WASHINGTON - The delicious smell of fresh baked bread and coffee cake has filled the air in this Cincinnati neighborhood's business district since 1927.

But this weekend, Mount Washington Bakery shuts for good.

Jeff Ganim, owner since 1970 of Mount Washington Bakery in the Beechmont Avenue business district, said he would close Saturday unless someone buys the business.

He bought the bakery from his father, who bought it in 1956 from his father-in-law.

Jeff Ganim blamed declining revenue because of road work on Beechmont Avenue for the past three years, including a $700,000 streetscape project that tore up much of the sidewalk.

All work is complete but he said he doesn't have the energy to rebuild.

"For three years, it was tough to get here. It's a shame, but all the things that went on here just kind of got to be a little too much for me," said Ganim, 52.

"It was a hard decision to make. I love what I do here. What's better than making something from scratch people want to buy?" he said. "But fighting the road construction and what a small business has to go through, I'm just tired."

Customers bemoaned the closing, saying that it's small, older businesses like the bakery that make Cincinnati's neighborhoods unique.

"When there is a variety of small stores, people stop and shop," said Tommie Miller of Anderson Township. "When they close down one by one, people go to the larger conglomerates."

Other owners in Mount Washington's business district agreed that work in recent years on Beechmont cut into their profits, too. Operators at some other stores, however, said business is good since the city's makeover to Beechmont wrapped up this year.

A new coffee house, Campus Coffee, is expected to open soon nearby on Campus Lane. Since Magnolia Clothing opened April 1, sales have been good, said owner Jo Ann Kavanaugh.

"We have a lot of women coming in that are so excited we're here," she said. "We are the first new clothing store they have had here in 20 years. Some people coming into my store haven't been to Mount Washington for a period of time."

Ganim plans to take vacation day and start a new business - pest control.

"I figure I've created enough bugs over the last 34 years by people taking things home they buy here and making crumbs for the bugs to eat. Now I'm coming to kill the bugs."

E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com.