Silvek Pupkowski gets a little choked up when talking about leaving his namesake bakery in the Kroger store in Little Rock's Heights neighborhood.
He's retiring in March after some 20 years at that location. That's also about the time his contract for Silvek's European Bakery expires with Kroger, the nation's second-largest grocer behind Wal-Mart.
"My brain is tired," Pupkowski, 61, said Monday, his native Polish tongue coloring his English.
"I'm tired," he continued. "I'm tired of being responsible for so long. My brain has to be rested."
For years, he's put in eight-hour days that begin between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m.
Teresa Dickerson, public relations and community affairs manager for Kroger's Delta Division said in a statement Monday: "Kroger Delta Division has enjoyed a great partnership with Silvek's European Bakery. We appreciate his service to our customers.
"We always want our customers to find what they want in our stores, plus a little," she added. "Silvek's Bakery provided that special 'plus a little.' We wish Mr. Pupkowski and his family all the best."
He's most concerned about disappointing his customers -- the ones who shop this particular Kroger for his most popular item, European-style loaves, plus assorted pastries, cakes and other baked goods.
The European style, Pupkowski said, is to use less sugar, to be more moist and to have a more distinct difference between flavors. "That's why we make so many" types of bread, he said.
"I want to say sorry for my customers because they are ..." he trailed off. "They keep me going. If they not be there, I don't exist."
Before he landed his prominent place at the Heights Kroger, he sold his delectable edibles out of the former Food Emporium, also in the Heights.
He's ready to retire, he said. So is his wife, Irena. But if he can find a buyer for the business, he will help with the transition to ensure a continuation of quality and to alleviate any concerns from his longtime customers.
"I just want to be" available as a consultant, he said. "Teach them or help them when they need it, and give them the same recipes, same philosophy, same style. Just keep it going with a different owner."
Pupkowski said he has a few prospects but nothing solid yet.
The bakery would likely keep the Silvek's name. There are several on his staff who can carry on the business without missing a beat. Among them are his son, Daniel Pupkowski, a baker and pastry chef, and another helper Barbara Golonka, also from Poland.
Pupkowski said he would stay in Little Rock.
He would not say how much it costs him to have the bakery in Kroger or for how much he would want to sell the business.
Business on 12/29/2015