But it seems Gouger had buttercream flowing in his veins. In 1970, his parents were ready to retire and they sold him the business. The neighborhood is far from being a suburb now. Frankford Avenue is a huge artery that extends through a long stretch of city until it becomes Bristol Pike once it passes the county line. The weekend getaway spot that once boasted summer bungalows is now bordering on dilapidated.
Power boats speed off docks and tear through the river in summer months now.
The rocky beach has become a parking lot often crammed with bikers who tailgate there on weekends. While the look and service of Holmesburg bakery hasn't changed much with the neighborhood, Gouger's commodities have become less than essential in the daily diets of Holmesburg residents, who can easily pick up a loaf of bread or a dozen rolls while doing their grocery shopping. Something about Holmesburg bakery sticks in people's minds like a raisin to a sticky bun. Long after children grow up or customers move away, they poke their heads into the shop when they're back in town for a visit. But fond memories aren't enough to keep a business healthy.