“The business started off really small. We lived overhead the bakery on Maiden Street. We had a little cafe there too, but when we moved up here to the Square in 1988, we expanded into the restaurant side of things.”
From there, Marguerite’s flourished, thanks to the Condon’s old-style craft breads and cakes. Richard and his brothers have since opened a bakery in Abbeyfeale, a second restaurant in Killarney, as well as running a wholesale business, stocking Marguerite’s baked goods in shops across Limerick.
“We are a traditional craft bakery,” explains Richard. “Nothing is made in massive batches, and we have no big machinery. Everything is handmade. We work very hard to keep our standards high.”
As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Marguerite’s has seen a slow return of customers to their flagship Newcastle West restaurant, No. 8.
Pictured are employee Helen Pye and owner Richard Condon. Picture: Krzysztof Luszczki/ilovelimerick.
“Our business is 90% local, repeat business. I think the pandemic has had an effect on people’s habits,” Richard admits.
“However, we are following every Covid-19 guideline and protocol. Customers are happy to see that we are being diligent about this because it makes them feel safer.”
Despite the great success and expansion of the family business, Marguerite’s remains a focal point of the Newcastle West community.
“We are a local family, so we support all the local clubs and societies. We are proud to be from Newcastle West and proud to see the town doing well. It is a challenging time for a lot of businesses, but if we support each other then we can survive,” believes Richard.
Newcastle West native and chef Donie Sheehan has been a member of the Marguerite’s team for a staggering 32 years.
“I’ve been cooking in Newcastle West since the early ’70s, so I know what people like and what they don’t. Marguerite’s is a very friendly environment to work in, as it is a family-owned business.”
Speaking from Marguerite’s, Mayor of Limerick City and County Daniel Butler says, “We all have our local cafe or restaurant where we mark our key life events, and this is what Marguerite’s is all about.
“The bakery is a key fabric in local lives here in Newcastle West. It is so important that we support these businesses to make sure that they stay around for another fifty or sixty years.”
For a baked treat or a good cup of coffee, visit Marguerites on The Square, Newcastle West, or have a bite to eat in the adjoining No. 8 restaurant.
Watch interview with Marguerites Bakery here!
