Peter Merzbacher of Merzbacher\u2019s of Germantown has acquired the iconic Philly bakery.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Barrett and Smith Born said that they have shared their recipes and equipment with Merzbacher, so while they will no longer be running the operation \u2014 baked treats from Metropolitan will still be available for purchase online and at specialty shops.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Merzbacher\u2019s opened its Germantown location in 2019. The store is arguably best known for its \u201cPhilly Muffin,\u201d a mix between an English muffin and small loaf.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly, I developed all of my products with Metropolitan being the elephant in the room,\u201d Merzbacher told the Inquirer<\/a>. \u201cEvery account I went to trying to sell a baguette, they were like, \u2018I use Metropolitan, we\u2019re happy with it.\u2019 \u2018And how about a classic sourdough?\u2019 \u2018Yeah, we got it from Metropolitan. We\u2019re pretty happy with it.\u2019 \u2018How about a brioche bun?\u2019 \u2018Yep, Metropolitan \u2014 we\u2019re happy with it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n The Inquirer reported that Barrett will serve as a consultant to help with production as the company transitions, and that Merzbacher aims to keep on \u201cas many of Metropolitan\u2019s 40 employees as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n Barrett and Smith Born started Metropolitan in 1993. They met while working as the pastry chef and managing partner of The White Dog Cafe, respectively. Both of them loved Parisian-style baking, and felt Philadelphia was missing something \u2014 so they started their own spot.<\/p>\n \u201cThere were no artisan bakeries in Center City,\u201d Barrett told WHYY in 2012<\/a>. \u201cThere were not many artisan bakeries, period, at the time in Philadelphia.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Barrett, part of the longevity and success of Metropolitan has been the authenticity of its recipes.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAll of Metropolitan Bakery Bread is based off one of four sourdough starters,\u201d he said. \u201cThey were all created from one singular starter or culture that I developed about 24 years ago. Now, the age doesn\u2019t particularly matter. What matters is that you constantly perpetuate the starter and take care of it like it was one of your children.\u201d<\/p>\n While it\u2019s now common for people to bake their own delicious loaves thanks to viral recipes and a pandemic that kept many of us in our kitchens, Metropolitan is championed for bringing that homemade feel to Philly. The store at its height had five retail shops, including a space in Reading Terminal. Barrett and Smith Born have written two cookbooks featuring their baking recipes.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve become a community institution: the neighborhood bakery \u2014 the place where people go to find their favorite morning treat or evening treat,\u201d Smith Born told WHYY.<\/p>\n Metropolitan Bakery\u2019s iconic location off of Rittenhouse Square on 19th Street will be closing down as of March 15.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you for everything, Philadelphia,\u201d the owners wrote on their Instagram<\/a>. \u201cBe good to each other.\u201d<\/p>\n \t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/metrobakes-credit-danyahenninger-chocolatechipcookies.jpg\")
Cookies from Metropolitan Bakery Credit: Danya Henninger \/ Billy Penn<\/p>\n