Fahmee Bakery, a beloved establishment known for its Jamaican patties and coco bread, is set to reopen its doors on Saturday at a new location in Malvern Town Centre, Scarborough, after being closed for over three years due to a devastating fire. The grand opening celebration will be held from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the new venue situated on Tapscott Road, just west of Neilson Road.
The owner, Faiz Abdella, reflected on the traumatic experience of losing the original bakery location to a fire on May 5, 2022. He mentioned that the event was difficult to process, saying, “It was just there one day and one day it was gone.” Abdella explained the immense stress of losing the business, coupled with financial responsibilities and customer demands for the bakery’s reopening.
For over five years, Abdella had worked tirelessly, averaging seven days a week, which eventually led to burnout. Following the fire, he relocated to a smaller store on Lansdowne Avenue, which he credits with keeping the business alive and teaching him valuable lessons about efficiency and resource management, stating, “If I didn’t have Lansdowne, I’d probably go completely bankrupt.” Abdella emphasized the importance of updating insurance to avoid being underinsured, which further delayed the reopening process.
During this challenging period, Abdella learned to balance his time between working in the kitchen and focusing on marketing and expanding the business, as he recognized that he needed to delegate certain tasks. The bakery has a rich history in Scarborough, originating in the 1980s. Abdella's father, who owns Bakery On The Go at Bathurst station, previously sold Fahmee Bakery's patties. In 2017, Abdella seized the opportunity to purchase the bakery to modernize its operations by standardizing recipes and embracing technology.
The reopening at Malvern Town Centre was motivated by Abdella's observation that a former McDonald's location was available for lease. He secured the space a year ago and undertook a significant refurbishment to create a larger production kitchen to meet the demand for their famous patties and coco bread. Abdella indicated that about 90% of the work to establish the new location was his father's effort, highlighting the collaborative effort that marked this transition.
Setting up in Malvern feels significant for Abdella, as he aims to create a space that reflects the community's diverse cultures. He stated, “We hope ... we can show that Malvern is a combination of different cultures. Fahmee Bakery is a combination of different cultures.” Abdella's vision is to celebrate and merge various cultural elements to create something innovative, ensuring Fahmee Bakery continues to be a staple in the community.
