Popular CT Bakery To Close, Owners Announce

WATERTOWN, CT — Rosemary’s Bakery, the popular desserts shop in Watertown, is closing, owners Rick and Linda Collier announced this week on Facebook.

The Colliers, who owned the bakery from 1983 to 1997, reopened it in 2024 after 27 years. But now, for undisclosed personal reasons, they are closing it again this summer.

"My wife and I started this venture as a fun way to stay active after retiring from careers in the State Technical School System, where I taught Culinary Arts for 26 years," Rick Collier wrote. "Reopening Rosemary’s Bakery was a labor of love—blood, sweat, and tears went into every detail—and the reception we received was overwhelming.

"And so, it is with heavy hearts that we announce Rosemary’s Bakery will be closing once we finish depleting our inventory. Gradually, other offerings will be phased out. We plan to remain open through June and likely into July to wind down operations, fulfill cake orders, sell our equipment and clean up the space."

The bakery was founded in 1946 by John Bacco, who mentored Rick in the early 1980s before Rick bought it in 1983.

Rick said he would be open to "a young baker, pastry chef, or team" taking over the shop, and he would help train them.

"After all, I’ve spent the past 27 years teaching Culinary Arts and would love to pass on that knowledge," Rick said. "I may also explore starting a smaller 'Cottage Industry' cake business from home—or something totally different than Culinary, we’ll see. I’m not the kind of person to sit still for long."