Belleville bakery to close in Woodfords Corner

PORTLAND, Maine — Belleville, the beloved artisanal bakeshop celebrated for its buttery croissants and inventive pizzas, will shutter its Forest Avenue location for good in September, marking the end of an era for Portland's pastry scene.

Owners Chris Deutsch and Amy Fuller announced the closure Wednesday in an Instagram post, signaling the complete shutdown of operations at the bakery they built into a local institution.

"We're ready to move on from small business bakery life, so we're closing all operations at Belleville," they wrote.

The decision comes after months of mounting challenges. In June, the couple closed their North Street flagship in Munjoy Hill, citing an inability to staff enough trained bakers to weather the busy season. At the time, they also acknowledged the financial and logistical strain of maintaining two locations.

Speaking to the ongoing demands of the business, Deutsch and Fuller reflected on the personal cost of keeping Belleville running.

"Running a small food service business is a grind," they wrote. "Running a small business while simultaneously raising a family is at times an impossible juggling act."

The bakery, which won over customers with laminated pastries and creative pie offerings, has earned regional and national recognition over the years. Bon Appetit magazine highlighted Belleville's croissants in 2018, declaring them the "best and butteriest" in Portland. Earlier this year, a Press Herald taste test of four city bakeries—conducted by the paper's French-born food writer Salomé Cloteaux—also crowned Belleville's croissants the city's top choice.

Before the final closing, customers will have a handful of opportunities to purchase treats one last time. The bakery plans to be open for retail sales this Saturday, followed by "a couple more days" in September. Specific dates have not yet been announced.

Deutsch and Fuller could not be reached for additional comment Wednesday.