Although an official announcement was yet to be made, you clever readers of food blogs helped usher the cat out of the bag: After 31 years at the Original Farmers Market, Bill Thee’s Thee’s Continental is being replaced by Amy Pressman’s Short Cake, the bakery attached to her forthcoming burger restaurant with Nancy Silverton, Short Order. But the Short staffers want L.A. to know, it’s not their fault Thee’s is being laid to rest.
Even though one of the principles could give a damn about Umami Burger sharing its turf, partner Bill Chait wants it to be known that Thee’s is leaving of its own accord, providing the Short family an opportunity to expand.
Chait breaks down the group’s purchase of Thee’s, saying, “When we learned Thee’s Continental was ready to sell their business and move on from the Farmers Market, we acted quickly to bring another bakery into the space. Bill Thee is an incredible man and baker, and we couldn’t be happier to continue that tradition by bringing the Farmers Market and its neighbors another exceptional baker, Amy Pressman.”
Thee’s closed up shop last Thursday, but its beloved frosting elephants and fetching burger and steak-shaped cakes remain on view, at least for now, on a Facebook page.
