Bob's Bakery
Title
Bob's Bakery
Subject
Bob's Bakery; Downtown Chicopee; Chicopee Businesses; History of Chicopee;
Description
Bob's Bakery was an iconic institution in Chicopee Center for 56 years. Located at 218 Exchange Street in the Historic Czakja Building, the bakery was started by Zygmunt Czakja in 1965 until his son, Paul, joined the business in 1981. Paul took over and ran the business with his wife, Dorothy, until it closed in November 2021. Bob's Bakery was well known for its Polish baked goods, including the Paczi. The family also owned the building on Exchange Street.
Creator
Charles Abel
Source
Dorothy Czajka
Publisher
Chicopee Archives Online
Date
1965; 2021;
Contributor
The Czajka Family
Format
Photographs; Documents;
Identifier
CPL-Chicopee-Identity-Bobs-Bakery-01
Collection Items
Zygmunt and Wiktoria Czjaka
Color photograph of the Zygmunt and Wiktoria Czjaka close-up and looking at the camera. Some wood paneling can be seen behind them. Zygmunt worked as a Baker in Poland during the German occupation in 1939-1945. He later brought his family and baking…
Paul Czjaka, young boy in white suit.
Black and white portrait of Paul Czjaka when he was a young boy, possibly age 5-6, dressed in a white suit with shorts and a bow tie. Zygmunt, Paul's father, worked as a Baker in Poland during the German occupation in 1939-1945. He later brought his…
Zygmunt, Bogumit and Paul
Color photograph of Zygmunt, center, Bogumit left, and Paul Czjaka, right, dressed in suits in a room with colorful wallpaper. A table with chairs in in front of them and a doorway to another room is behind them. Zygmunt worked as a Baker in Poland…
Photograph of Zygmunt and Wiktoria
A small faded color photograph of Wiktoria Czajka, smiling and looking at the camera, with her arms holding hisband Zygumnt, who is looking away from the camera. They are sitting on a couch with and floral fabric and two red pillows. There is a…
Czajka Family Photograph
A framed black and white photograph of the Czajka family. Unknown location but shows Zygmunt and his wife Wiktoria with son Paul as a baby. Zygmunt and Wiktoria are standing. Wiktoria is holding Paul and lookng at the camera, while Zygmunt is looking…
Zygmunt Czajka Travel Book
Travel book, similar to a passport, for Zygmunt Czajka in the form of a small booklet. Zygmunt worked as a Baker in Poland during the German occupation in 1939-1945. He later brought his family and baking skills to Chicopee and opened Bob's Bakery on…
Bob's Bakery 2021
A selection of photographs of Bob's Bakery and the owners, Paul and Dorothy Czajka, taken during the week prior to closing the downtown fixture. The bakery was started by Paul's father, Zygmunt Czajka, in 1965 and remained in business for 56 years.…
Zygmunt Czajka
Mounted Albumen print of Zygmunt Czajka in his military uniform. The photograph was taken in the 1930s while Zygmunt was in the Polish Army before the start of World War II. Zygmunt survived the war by working as a Baker in Poland during the German…
Zygmunt Czajka Identity Book
Identification papers for Zygmunt Czajka in the form of a small booklet. Zygmunt worked as a Baker in Poland during the German occupation in 1939-1945. He later brought his family and baking skills to Chicopee and opened Bob's Bakery on Exchange…