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Oakmont Bakery one step closer to new location | TribLIVE.com
Plum Advance Leader

Oakmont Bakery one step closer to new location

Michael DiVittorio
Michael DiVittorio
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Michael DiVittorio
Oakmont Bakery retail store manager Michael Sullivan examines a chocolate torte cake before it's placed in a showcase.
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Lillian DeDomenic | For The Tribune-Review
Members of the Oakmont Bakery family gather Aug. 31, 2017, at the site of their new location across from Riverview Junior-Senior High School on Hulton Road. Pictured from left are members of the Serrao family: Susan, Anthony, Nicholas, Samantha, Marc II, Stephanie Serrao-Bittinger, Isabella, Marc.
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Michael DiVittorio
Oakmont Bakery may open in a new location along Third Street in September 2018.
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Michael DiVittorio
Oakmont Bakery cashier Shalita Thornhill of Homewood serves Donna and John Wiegand of Kittanning.
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Michael DiVittorio
Artist renderings of a proposed new Oakmont Bakery show a larger retail and production area compared to its current site.

Plans to relocate the iconic Oakmont Bakery from the heart of the borough's business district to Third Street by Riverview High School are moving forward.

Borough planning commissioners recently approved its land development application.

Owner Marc Serrao said he hopes to get council's formal approval at its Sept. 18 voting meeting and could seek a building permit to start construction in November.

“It's going to really change a lot about the way we work,” he said. “We'll be able to add some equipment that we really need. The most exciting thing about the new building is that present and future generations will be working in a building that will accommodate business growth. We have been thinking about our new production areas for years. The layout will separate the baking, decorating and finishing areas so that cleaning and baking will be more streamlined.”

Plans also include more parking, a larger seating area and more jobs. The Serraos opened the bakery in 1988. Its current location at 531 Allegheny Ave. features a retail space and a separate production building next door.

The move will have both operations, and a warehouse, under one roof — specifically, the roof of the former ATA Oakmont Martial Arts, Kelsey's Dance & Fitness and La Tanning shops along Third Street near Hulton Road.

La Tanning is still in the process of relocating. The other two shops are gone. The property also involves the old Blue Bunny ice cream store nearby.

Serrao hopes to rename the private road entering the lot behind the new bakery Sweet Street, and make the address 1 Sweet Street. The new shop could open next September. Plans were designed by Pittsburgh-based Desmone Architects.

Michael DiVittorio is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 412-871-2367, mdivittorio@tribweb.com or via Twitter @MikeJdiVittorio.