There’s a new bakery outlet in town. Freihofer’s/Nissen Bakery Outlet opened its doors on September 6 at its new location at 587 Main Street, Route 25, next to Beal’s Ice Cream. The store was previously located at 1037 Forest Avenue in Portland, but according to Manager, Michele Guilford, the company had been looking for a new location for over eight years. When Guilford saw the “for lease” sign on the property in Gorham, she contacted the landlord the next day.

“I drive through Gorham every day and know that Route 25 is a very busy road and would make a great area for a new store. So many people drive by this location or live near here and do not want to drive in downtown Portland traffic. We have a large parking area, a big bright store, and from our front windows, customers can watch the wildlife grazing in the fields across the street.”

Freihofer’s/Nissen Bakery Outlet is a subsidiary of Bimbo Bakeries USA, the country’s largest bakery company. Bimbo Bakeries is located in Horsham, Pennsylvania and products are delivered to Maine daily. Bakery items that do not sell fast enough, are overstock, or over-orders are sent to the Bakery Outlet in Gorham. These products are discounted up to 80% and although they have a shorter shelf-life than in the grocery store, they will never be sold with an outdated expiration. At $.89 for a loaf of bread, customers can try new varieties without spending a lot of money.

The Bakery Outlet offers name brands such as Arnold, JJ Nissen, Freihofer’s, Beefsteak, Ballpark, Anzio, and Sara Lee bread and rolls. Products include Thomas English Muffins, Bagels, and Swirl Breads, Boboli pizza crust and Entenmann’s pastries. Customers can also pick up discounted items such as Jellies, large Table Talk pies, gravies, soup mixes, cookies, and muffins.

Friehofer’s has something for all ages. Guilford fondly remembers visiting an Outlet Store with her grandparents as a child and she would stock up on all the goodies from puff pastry to chocolate donuts. “I was allowed to pick one item to eat on the way home. Now I get to see other grandparents creating memories with their grandchildren in our store. We also see young couples trying to stretch their grocery money and college students stopping in to get a loaf of bread to make sandwiches in their dorm room. We have one Mom who tells us that she puts the money she saves here into their Family Vacation Fund and that allows her family to take a summer vacation every year.”