New Bedford Mourns Sunrise Bakery as Founding Family Speaks Out

For as long as we can remember, Bolton Street in New Bedford has had its own little neighborhood bakery. It’s no surprise Sunrise Bakery has been there so long. In a way, it always felt a little out of place, a business tucked into a highly residential neighborhood, packed tightly with homes and cars. That is also what made Sunrise so special. It was a real part of the Bolton Street neighborhood.

Sunrise Bakery Has Been a Neighborhood Staple For Decades

Sunrise Bakery was home for so many people in the surrounding area. It carried the same feeling as having your avo living right up the street, baking pastéis de nata or making you an egg salad sandwich on a pop.

Sunrise Bakery Fire Leaves Lasting Impact on Bolton Street

For now, those days are over for the tight-knit New Bedford neighborhood. Wednesday night’s fire was devastating. Google has already slapped the listing with its kiss of death, labeling it "permanently closed," the red letters jumping off the screen.

READ MORE: Fire Heavily Damages New Bedford's Sunrise Bakery

Family Legacy and Community Connections

If the neighborhood is mourning the loss of Sunrise Bakery, you can only imagine the gut punch for Manny Amaral and his sister Inez, who spent their lives building the business.

While Sunrise Bakery is now owned and operated by Richard Freeman, the previous owners also must feel like a piece of them died in Wednesday night’s fire.

We are now hearing from Manny Amaral’s daughter, Hailey, who shared this message on Facebook:

"Our hearts are shattered. There are no words to express the heartbreak we feel about the entirety of this situation. Our family worked so hard for this dream, built from the ground up. Though the business was under new ownership, it was home to so many in the area. For more than 40 years, we served this community, built relationships, created memories, met people from all over the country who came to try our products, and served our regulars their morning coffee. To the employees and bakers we have worked with over the years, we say thank you. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you.

I also want to say thank you to the New Bedford Fire Department for spending hours working on the building. God bless you all." – Hailey Amaral

We will keep all current and former employees and owners in our thoughts as they cope with this loss.