Century Bakery — Restaurant in Bridgeton

Place has gone downhill since new management. I, along with several other family members, worked at century bakery so I’m familiar with how it was ran before. Century was cleaned every night and no icing in the glass display smeared everywhere but now it appears they never clean it and have no standards for their staff as they are rude and condescending. Against my better judgement I still ordered my usual cupcake cake that our family has purchased for years and they not only raised the price a lot along with everything else but now charge a setup fee for a one layer (so no tower) cupcake cakes. Icing them individually doesn’t include this charge but smearing it across them all requires a setup fee? Seems like another attempt to charge the customer more but they couldn’t include it in the price as they know it’s already too high. Cakes have icing smeared across them and no setup fee. When I asked when this became a thing they told me very condescendingly it’s been a thing. But beings I always buy these and generations of our family have gone there and worked there so I’m aware this is not true. I have heard nothing but bad things from the community that has supported them and this is the last straw for me. I understand change happens but why buy a place like that that was known for being old school, same recipes, always clean, always nice and didn’t charge fees to set cupcakes next to each other if you’re just going to ruin it? Things get smaller, customer service is lacking, place looks disgusting compared to before yet they want to raise their prices and add made up fees. I want to reiterate this is a traditional one layer cake I ordered not a tower because a two layer or tower one would obviously have a fee added and I would get that. Century is known for its basic ballon or flower cakes this is not cake boss type cakes. They also forgot to fulfill a wedding cake for someone on their wedding day while my family never worked there so I don’t know I could count on it even being ready. Last time I went there and noticed the lack of cleanliness was o get donuts but there were none. Imagine that a bakery with no donuts. I would have just told the owner this or explained but they didn’t seem to care why I cancelled my order and caught an attitude for simply asking what a...

I would like nothing more than to give this bakery a 5 star review, as it is one of my favorite places to visit when I come back home to Bridgeton however, I cannot. Centry Bakery has been a hidden gem and staple in the community for YEARS! They serve some of the finest bakery goods for miles and miles. Their fried donuts are truly one of a kind and completely unique and my personal favorite. Since the passing of one of the previous owners, a new owner has come to town. I will say they have done a great job of putting the bakery on the map and initiating a positive online presence. Advertising and marketing is beautiful and eye catching. Here’s the problem and here’s why I’ve decided to only give a 3 star review. THEY NEVER HAVE THE FRIED DONUTS. My last 4 visits to this bakery (from 45 minutes away) within the past few months, they never have fried donuts. It’s so frustrating. If this is an item you’re specifically known for, promote constantly, I feel as though you should plan to have enough inventory on hand to serve your customers. I can see if I arrived at the bakers within the hour of closing and there were none left, but that’s not the case. I have arrived anytime between 3-5 hours BEFORE closing and I’m told, “I’m sorry, we don’t have any left.” My puzzled response is typically, “You don’t close for another 3 hours, how do you not have any left?” Just to be told, “You can place an order for them and come back another day.” Quite frankly, I don’t want to place an order for them or come back another day. As a former local and restaurant manager it makes no sense to me there is never enough of this specific item on hand. Why? At the very least, if you’re going to promote an item, expect to have an increase in demand and be sure to pump up your pars for the day and supply your customers with the one item they travel out of their way for. Instead, unfortunately I continuously leave frustrated, disappointed and...

I am very disappointed to be leaving a two star review but it is necessary. I love this bakery and have mainly gotten the product from the school I teach in. This was the first time I ordered for myself and they are not very attentive to their customers.

Most importantly the two stars that I am leaving are not because of the product. I ordered 24 cupcakes and cinnamon rolls. The product itself tasted delicious. Although, I ordered two colored cupcakes for an order I planned to pick up on the way to work. When I got there the order was not there. They had to rush to ice cupcakes and they were extremely messy and NOT what I ordered.

Another problem was the process of ordering. Online the website says you can call or send the order in an email. I tried calling twice and got a voicemail that says to call back. So I sent an email with my order. I got a message back saying I have to “call the store and talk to one of the girls”. Why does it say I can order by email if they say I have to call? I called again, no answer. This was during business hours. Finally, I got an answer after all of that and placed my order which made no difference because they did not have it ready when I went to pick it up.

I am so disappointed by the lack of service. I don’t care how good the product is, if you have lousy customer service, I...