By Doreen Ling
KUCHING, April 25: Everything that has a beginning has an ending, and that is (sadly) the case with the iconic All Joy Bakery as Kuchingnites have learned that the legendary bakery will soon close its doors, with April 30 as its last day.
Located in front of the Open Air Market here, the bakery has long been a favourite among Kuchingnites with popular items like its Milo buns, butter buns, red bean buns, cheese buns, swiss rolls, satay chicken buns, and chicken hot dog rolls.
According to information collected from Facebook, the reason for the closure is that the owners of the bakery wanted to retire. Due to news spreading on social media about the bakery’s closure, Kuchingnites have flocked to it, eager for one last taste of nostalgia, which has caused traffic congestion in the city area, especially around the Plaza Merdeka and Open Air Market areas.
According to a staff member, the outlet in front of the Open Air Market is the last to remain open, as the one at Wisma Saberkas here has closed down as well.
“Because of the large number of customers, we limit the purchase to two buns per person,” said the staff member who wanted to remain anonymous.
It was also learned that customers were queuing up from left and right of the shop, with the line reaching about seven shops long.
A customer also claimed that the bakery limited purchases to four buns per customer this morning, before the bakery closed for a while in the afternoon and reopened with a purchase limit of only two buns per customer.
Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng, when asked for his thoughts, hoped that one day, someone would step up to continue the bakery’s legacy.
“I’m sure somebody who has looked into this business opportunity can create their own brand (one day). If someone can establish and recreate the Milo buns, then why not? Someday, somehow, someone will take this up,” he said.
Wee also took this opportunity to remind everyone to not take things—including businesses—for granted as they won’t be there forever.
“Try to appreciate what you have at the moment. At the end of the day, when is a start, there is sure to be an end,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sophia Steward, a pensioner, has fond memories of the bakery which she frequented back in the 1980s.
“The food there was home-cooked and handmade, and as someone who was living away from home, I appreciated it.
“I’ll always have fond memories of All Joy. I’m sad to see it go, but I understand the bosses’ intention to retire. I wish them all the best, and thank you for the wonderful memories,” she said when contacted by DayakDaily.
Similarly, posts and comments were poured in on Facebook, with many users expressing bittersweet thoughts about the bakery’s closure.
Among them was Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii, who visited the bakery, during which he took the opportunity to thank the owners and staff for their service. He also bought some Milo buns, which he described as a favourite since he was young.
“I am sure this place brings back a lot of memories for all Kuchingnites, especially memories of the days when that area was one of the main gathering places due to the ‘bus stop’ and end point of the ‘Kereta Sapu’,” he said in a Facebook post.
With less than a week until it closes its doors, customers from near and far will be paying the bakery one last visit. For many, this humble bakery was more than just a place to buy buns—it was a cherished part of their daily routine, a comforting constant through the decades, and a living memory of growing up in Kuching.
When the doors close, it won’t just mark the end of a business—it will be the closing of a beloved chapter in Kuching’s collective memory. — DayakDaily
