AM-POL Eagle: Promotional Print Brings Back Sweet Memories Of East Side Bakery

1385 Broadway - Buffalo

(Gregory Witul • Mon, Feb 17, 2014) For many of Buffalo’s working class Poles, art was a luxury few could enjoy. After paying the rent, putting food on the table and sending the kids to parochial school, there was little money left for pretty paintings. Prints were popular but could still get expensive. To fill this desire for art many businesses began to give it away as a promotional item. Companies would give away pictures of mountains, birds, lakes, rivers and flowers to name a few.

In Polonia, religious scenes were some of the most popular. This week we’ll take a look at one business which gave away these popular promotional prints, the Chmielewski Bakery in Buffalo’s far East Side.

The Chmielewski Bakery at 1385 Broadway was one of Polonia’s longest running bakeries.

Read full story on AM-POL Eagle—>


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7 thoughts on “AM-POL Eagle: Promotional Print Brings Back Sweet Memories Of East Side Bakery

    1. Hi Ray, I am the granddaughter of Leon & Mieczyslawa. Your uncle must have worked with my uncles and mom at the bakery. I remember spending weekends there with my twin brother and cousins driving the bakers crazy. We used to hide behind the flour stacks from them. I remember only found memories and it’s nice to see there are still people here with their memories of the bakery.

    2. Ray — your uncle Frank was married to my aunt Virginia in 1935. She passed away, as did their unborn baby in April 1935. My aunt is buried in Chicago. I’d love to contact you for more info.

    3. Ray — your uncle Frank was married to my aunt Virginia in 1935. She passed away, as did their unborn baby in April 1935. My aunt is buried in Chicago. I’d like to somehow be in contact with you for more info.

  1. I am the grandaughter of Edward and Irene Chmielewski. Such great memories of all the time we spent there. Wish I could have learned more from them before it was sold. I was so young when Poppy got sick, only in about 7yrs old. Looking back, I wish I could have appriciated more of what they had done instead of always trying to just get to the chocolate covered cupcakes behind the counter. Ray & Mimi do either of you have any pictrues of the bakery? and would you be willing to share?

  2. Ray — your uncle Frank was married to my aunt Virginia in 1935. She passed away, as did their unborn baby in April 1935. My aunt is buried in Chicago. I’d love to contact you for more info.

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