Peacuddy's Closes After 12 Years

Peacuddy's Café and Bakery has closed after 12 years in Melrose, the last three-and-half years on Franklin Street and prior that as Sweet Tooth Baking Co. on Main Street.

Owner Ellen Hegarty hung a hand-written sign in the window informing the community of neighborhood café's closing.

"It is with a very heavy heart the decision to close Peacuddy's has been made," the sign reads. "It has been a great pleasure to be a part of the community for the past 12 years, both on Main St. and here on Franklin St. I will deeply miss the interaction with everyone. I extend my gratitude to all of our loyal customers and appreciate all of the well wishes received. On to the next chapter..."

After the building that housed Sweet Tooth on the corner of Main and Essex was purchased in 2007, Hegarty learned that renovations would require the business to move. After the Depot Deli closed on Franklin Street, Sweet Tooth stayed open until Mother's Day 2008 and opened one month later on Franklin Street as Peacuddy's.

The new location came with it an expansion of the ready-to-go dinner meals that had begun at Sweet Tooth, along with the shop's other baked goods, pasteries and coffee.

The name came from the Hegarty's then 3-year-old daughter, Grace, who began calling their dog, Alice, by the name of "Alice Peacuddy."

Peacuddy's also became the home of monthly ethnic music jam sessions hosted by the Folk Arts Center of New England, with people joining in for music and more.

Leave your memories of Peacuddy's in the comments below.