Popular Kalona bakery, eateries closed after fire

A fire last weekend in the Kalona Bakery has caused it and neighboring businesses to close indefinitely.

The fire was reported about 7:50 p.m. Saturday by someone at the Tuscan Moon Grill on Fifth, which shares an alley to the west of the Kalona Bakery. The caller said smoke was coming from the building and there was a fire in the back, said Cara Sorrells, dispatch supervisor for the Washington County Sheriff's Office.

Sorrells said the cause of the fire still is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal, which is not uncommon after fires at large commercial businesses, she said.

An update the Kalona Bakery's Facebook page said the bakery would be closed indefinitely. Owner Jon Troyer did not answer a phone call and two Facebook messages.

'Due to the fire we will be closed, we appreciate any and all prayers. - the Troyers,” the Facebook post said.

Earlier this month, in an article profiling the bakery, The Gazette reported the Troyers took ownership of it a year ago from previous owners who had operated it for 35 years.

Lyndon Hershberger, owner of Kalona Chocolates to the east of the bakery, said he had to evacuate his shop and the recently-opened Chocolate Cafe. Kalona Chocolates is closed so the shop can be professionally cleaned after the fire caused what Hershberger called significant smoke damage. He hopes the shop will begin producing candy again by the middle of next week.

'We're feeling a bit overwhelmed,” Hershberger said. 'We have a supportive community around us, good people helping us. (We'll) try to figure out what the next great step is and move toward that.”

Troyer and Hershberger work closely together to offer deals on products and operate business efficiently. Hershberger said he expects that relationship to continue, and that community members in Kalona continue to offer support, especially through prayer.

'Obviously, we're disappointed but the community has been supportive to this point,” Hershberger said. 'We'll continue to feel that support and we'll survive.”