Fans hoped new owners would save Johnson County cafe and bakery. Auction dashes hopes

When Great Harvest bakery closed its Prairie Village location in May, its upset fans and corporate officials hoped a new owner would take over.

Instead, it’s being sold off, piece by piece.

Equip-Bid Auctions in Overland Park has the cafe’s equipment and fixtures listed for a liquidation auction that will close at 7 p.m. Sept. 10.

Items for sale include a commercial freezer, refrigerator, bakery oven, dough divider, a “monster size” mixer, baking pans, vegetable slicers, a checkout counter with a granite top, flour mill, bread slicer, racks and a red neon espresso sign.

John Ross, sales manager at Equip-Bid Auctions, said Great Harvest was close to making a deal for a new owner but it fell through.

Johnson County bakery closing after four decades in the metro: ‘It’s gut-wrenching’

Great Harvest had operated in the metro for more than four decades. In 2015, Sarah and Brian Berlin purchased the current location, at 4002 W. 83rd St. in Corinth Square, and closed it on May 11.

The Montana-based Great Harvest Franchising Inc. hoped to sign a new franchisee for the spot, saying in a statement at the time: “This store has had (a) long run of success in Prairie Village and the thought that an owner would close this location rather than try and sell is very surprising.”

Hope for Johnson County bakery fans: It’s closing, but a new owner could take over

Officials with Great Harvest and Corinth Square did not return phone calls or emails this week.

The Berlins couldn’t be reached for comment. But a sign from them on the door of the cafe said they had hoped to sell “this beloved bakery, but unfortunately that did not come to pass.” They directed customers to the Great Harvest in Lawrence.