HE’S HELPING HIS EMPLOYEES. I TALKED WITH THE OWNER OF GEORGIE’S CORNER BAKERY AND CAFE. HE SAYS IT WAS A TOUGH DECISION TO SHUT DOWN THE BUSINESS. NOW, PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY ARE UPSET AND EMPLOYEES ARE LOOKING FOR WORK. GEORGIE’S CORNER BAKERY AND CAFE HAS BEEN A FAVORITE ON WALNUT STREET AND SHADYSIDE FOR FOUR YEARS, AND NOW IT’S SHUTTING ITS DOORS. WE AGONIZED OVER THE DECISION. REALLY. IT WASN’T EASY TO MAKE. IT’S KIND OF OUR DREAM. THIS THIS PROJECT. GEORGE SAXON AND HIS WIFE, BETH FOLEY SAXON MADE THIS POST ON INSTAGRAM. IT SAYS AFTER MUCH CONSIDERATION, WE HAVE MADE THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO CLOSE OUR BUSINESS. AFTER NEARLY FOUR YEARS OF OPERATION, WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE BEEN PART OF THE SHADYSIDE COMMUNITY. IT’S UPSETTING, BUT IT’S UNFORTUNATELY NOT THAT SURPRISING. WE’VE SEEN THIS TREND TAKE PLACE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. A LOT OF SMALLER, LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES GOING OUT, AS WELL AS SOME LARGER ONES. THE MANAGER, JOSE MARTIN, SAYS ABOUT MORE THAN A DOZEN EMPLOYEES ARE NOW LOOKING FOR WORK. THE OWNERS SAY THE BUSINESS IS CLOSING BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL REASONS. MARTIN SAYS SHE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE MORE NOTICE. SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN LAID OFF. WE HAVE ABOUT 20 EMPLOYEES THAT ARE ALL BEING LAID OFF EFFECTIVELY AND LOOKING FOR NEW WORK. NOT AS MUCH NOTICE AS WE WOULD HAVE LIKED, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT’S A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD TO MAKE THIS PLACE RUN. AND YEAH, HOPEFULLY THEY WILL FIND THEIR WAY. SAXON SAYS HE GAVE AS MUCH NOTICE AS HE COULD AND WANTED TO GIVE EMPLOYEES TWO WEEKS, BUT HE WAS HOLDING ON TO HOPE HE DIDN’T HAVE TO CLOSE. HE AND HIS WIFE HAVE SET UP A GOFUNDME FOR EMPLOYEES 60 DAYS NOTICE IS A LOT MORE THAN NO NOTICE, AND I HAVE BEEN IN INDUSTRY MY ENTIRE CAREER AND I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THINGS HAPPEN. SAME DAY, THE OWNERS HOPE A NEW TENANT WILL CONTINUE THEIR MISSION OF PROVIDING A GATHERING SPACE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE BUSINESS WILL CLOSE SUNDAY, JANUARY 18TH. COVERING ALLEG
Georgie’s Corner Bakery & Cafe to close in Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood
Updated: 7:48 PM EST Jan 16, 2026
Georgie’s Corner Bakery & Cafe, a local favorite spot on Walnut Street in Shadyside, is closing its doors after four years due to financial reasons, the owners said.”We agonized over the decision, really. It wasn’t easy to make. It’s kind of our dream, this project,” said George Saxon, who owns the bakery with his wife, Beth Foley-Saxon.The couple announced the closure on Instagram, stating, “After much consideration, we have made the difficult decision to close our business after nearly four years of operation. We are honored to have been part of the Shadyside community.””It’s upsetting, but it’s unfortunately not that surprising,” customer Caleigh Trauger said. “We’ve seen this trend take place over the last couple of years — a lot of smaller, locally owned businesses going out, as well as some larger ones.”Josie Martin, the manager, said more than a dozen employees are now looking for work.”We have about 20 employees that are all being laid off, effectively, and looking for new work. Not as much notice as we would have liked, but it’s a great group of people who have worked really hard to make this place run. Hopefully, they will find their way,” Martin said.Saxon said he provided as much notice as possible. He wanted to give two weeks notice, hoping to avoid closure.”Six days’ notice is a lot more than no notice. I have been in industry my entire career, and I have seen a lot of things happen same day,” Saxon said.The owners have also set up a GoFundMe to support their employees.Georgie’s Corner will close on Sunday, Jan. 18. The owners hope a new tenant will continue their mission of providing a gathering space for the neighborhood.
PITTSBURGH —
Georgie’s Corner Bakery & Cafe, a local favorite spot on Walnut Street in Shadyside, is closing its doors after four years due to financial reasons, the owners said.
“We agonized over the decision, really. It wasn’t easy to make. It’s kind of our dream, this project,” said George Saxon, who owns the bakery with his wife, Beth Foley-Saxon.
The couple announced the closure on Instagram, stating, “After much consideration, we have made the difficult decision to close our business after nearly four years of operation. We are honored to have been part of the Shadyside community.”
“It’s upsetting, but it’s unfortunately not that surprising,” customer Caleigh Trauger said. “We’ve seen this trend take place over the last couple of years — a lot of smaller, locally owned businesses going out, as well as some larger ones.”
Josie Martin, the manager, said more than a dozen employees are now looking for work.
“We have about 20 employees that are all being laid off, effectively, and looking for new work. Not as much notice as we would have liked, but it’s a great group of people who have worked really hard to make this place run. Hopefully, they will find their way,” Martin said.
Saxon said he provided as much notice as possible. He wanted to give two weeks notice, hoping to avoid closure.
“Six days’ notice is a lot more than no notice. I have been in industry my entire career, and I have seen a lot of things happen same day,” Saxon said.
The owners have also set up a GoFundMe to support their employees.
Georgie’s Corner will close on Sunday, Jan. 18. The owners hope a new tenant will continue their mission of providing a gathering space for the neighborhood.