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Winchester residents popping into their favorite Swanton Street bakery Sunday were shocked to find the business closed after a car crashed through a wall on Dec. 21.
Mamadou’s Artisan Bakery, located at 63 Swanton St., had no electricity following the accident Saturday evening. Owners Mamadou and Mame Mbaye were inside speaking to customers who streamed into the business.
“We have no idea what’s happening,” Mamadou Mbaye said. “We’re going to be closed until we sort things out. Right now, everything is up in the air.”
He added this is the busiest time of the year for the bakery.
Both he and his wife said they were home Saturday when they received a call from police shortly after 6 o’clock about the accident.
“It was shocking,” said Mame Mbaye. “We were closed and we had to rush to get here. When we got here, everyone was here…the police, fire department….they were waiting for us.”
Mamadou Mbaye said when the couple arrived on the scene, they found the side wall completely open. The area has since been cleaned up by the couple and boarded up.
The couple said they were told a young person was behind the wheel of the car, but no one was injured. They added they had not received any more information and were awaiting a police report on the incident.
Winchester Police declined to speak on the matter Sunday, but said they would have more details available during the week.
“We just have to figure out what happened,” Mame Mbaye said, of the accident. “We will have to wait for the Building Department to come down. I guess we have to wait and see what’s going on.”
Customers said they were upset by what the closure means for the business, but glad no one was inside when the accident occurred.
“Thank goodness no one was hurt,” said Marta K, a longtime customer. “Maybe someone didn’t realize this wasn’t a drive-thru!”
