Framingham Baking Co., a Massachusetts institution founded in 1917 by Italian immigrants, will close its doors on March 29 after more than a century in business. The family-run bakery, best known for its trays of pizza and Italian bread, announced the closure on Facebook, thanking customers and employees for their loyalty over the decades.

Originally established by Pietro Dragone and his brothers-in-law Vittorio and Giuseppe Gastone, the bakery survived early tragedy when Giuseppe was killed in 1921 and Vittorio fell ill. The business was saved when Vincenzo Bertolino and his wife Giusepina moved from Springfield to take over operations. In 1923, they purchased both the house and bakery, later bringing Enrico Capra on as a partner.

The closure marks the end of a generational family business that weathered economic downturns, changing consumer tastes, and the challenges of running a small bakery in an era of supermarket competition. The announcement has sparked an outpouring of nostalgia from longtime customers who remember the bakery's signature pizza, spinach and feta croissants, and traditional Italian bread. While no specific reasons were given for the closure, the decision underscores the mounting pressures facing family-owned bakeries in today's retail landscape.