Culbert's Bakery closed months after tornado rebuild

Date: Tuesday Jun. 19, 2012 6:00 PM ET

A popular Goderich business is shut down again. Culbert's Bakery reopened May 11th after rebuilding following the tornado. Now the owners are scrambling to deal an imposed closure from Ministry of Labour.

"I knew he was trouble as soon as he walked in", says Darin Culbert, Owner and baker at Culbert's, when speaking about the Ministry of Labour's health and safety inspector.

The inspector ordered the bakery shut down on June 18, 2012. He says safety guards need to be installed on two bread slicers, a dough mixer and a bread sheeter before the operation can resume. The equipment in question is more than 75 years old.

"You can't find parts for it. You have to have them all custom made and trying to find people to make them is kind of hard", says Culbert.

The visit from the inspector was unexpected for Culbert, "We never had a safety inspector in a hundred years. We've never had claims of anyone ever getting hurt.

Culbert's has been in operation for 134 years.

It cost the owners $360,000 to repair the damages from last summer's tornado. Insurance covered roughly one third of the costs. Upgrades to the baking equipment are expected to cost $50,000.

Barry Culbert took over running the bakery from his father 55 years ago. He's disappointed with the Ministry of Labour's decision.

"I think they're way over the top. Not a little over. They're way over the top."

Long time customers, who typically line up for hours to get their hands on a doughnut or cream puff, are equally disappointed.

"When it just reopened everybody was excited and you can't get doughnuts if you don't come first thing in the morning", says Cindy Brennan.

With the forced closure, staff at Culbert's is now in limbo, unsure if their jobs will remain.

"Honestly, I was just a little shocked at what happened. None of us we're expecting it at all but I'm most concerned for the bakers", says university student Kate Nicholson.

Culbert's is a major tourist attraction for Goderich. The shut down comes as the town is encouraging visitors to rediscover the small town on the banks of Lake Huron.

"Not only will they find the wonderful sunsets and beaches but also a new sense of inspiration. We are rebuilding", says Todd Letts, Goderich's economic development officer.

The Culbert's hope to have their bakery reopened within a month.

The safe order also requires that a non management employee of the bakery act as a health and safety representative.

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