SALINAS, Calif. -- The empty shelves, the cheap prices for bread, and the good-bye notes, all a constant reminder for employees at the Hostess Bakery Thrift-shop that they will soon be out of a job.
"It's just sad, it's really sad to see this happen," said April Lingbeck.
Lingbeck has been going to the bakery for 23 years and has grown close to workers there.
"It's pretty sad that they did this to these families right before Thanksgiving. What a way to go into the holidays, knowing you're not going to have a job," said Lingbeck.
The manager of the thrift-shop has been working there for over 25 years, and she told Central Coast News taking down the store's shelves is the hardest thing she's had to do.
What's making things worse for employees there is the waiting game, as Hostess decides when it will officially close its doors. Since Hostess announced bankruptcy last week, the shop was told its last day was going to be yesterday.
Then the 11 hour mediation gave employees some hope. That hope quickly crumbled Wednesday, after Hostess announced it is officially liquidating, making next Tuesday the bakery's last day Tuesday the 27th.
The manager said if they sell the little they have before that, they will close the shop earlier. Which means, patrons like Lingbeck, will have to go on the search for a new neighborhood bakery.
"Every week we come here and get bread and pastries. We live not too far from here and its really going to be sad to see this place go," said Lingbeck.
