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Topper Bakery burns down; future of longtime Ogden locale uncertain

By Tim Vandenack - | Aug 31, 2021
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Bud DeRyke and his daughter Jana Ingles stand outside the burned-out remnants of Topper Bakery in Ogden on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021. DeRyke's dad, Harry DeRyke, first opened the bakery, an Ogden institution, in 1939.
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Christian Babington stands outside the burned-out remnants of Topper Bakery in Ogden on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021. Babington lives in the neighborhood and especially liked the chocolate donuts at the locale. Harry DeRyke first opened the bakery, an Ogden institution, in 1939.
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Christian Babington stands outside the burned-out remnants of Topper Bakery in Ogden on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021. Babington lives in the neighborhood and especially liked the chocolate donuts at the locale. Harry DeRyke first opened the bakery, an Ogden institution, in 1939.
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This photo posted on Twitter early Tuesday morning, Aug. 31, 2021, shows firefighters attempting to extinguish a structure fire at Topper Bakery in Ogden.

OGDEN — Assessing the burned-out remnants of the family business, Topper Bakery, Bud DeRyke could only shake his head.

“It’s like another death in the family,” he said Tuesday morning.

Ogden firefighters responded late Monday to a fire at Topper, an Ogden institution known for its donuts and other baked goods. Ultimately, 21 firefighters in all helped fight the blaze, preventing its spread, but the bakery structure at 2516 Monroe Blvd. in east-central Ogden was deemed a total loss by the Ogden Fire Department.

DeRyke is the son of the founder of Topper, Harry DeRyke, who opened the business in 1939. He showed up Tuesday morning — the fire extinguished, the front of the business boarded up — to take stock of things. He seemed to have more questions than answers.

“I don’t have a clue what’s next,” said Bud DeRyke, who visited with his daughter, Jana Ingles. He remembered working for his dad at Topper, while a student at Central Junior High School, now gone, and Ogden High School.

Like her dad, Ingles likened the destruction of Topper to a death. She recalled visiting the locale as a kid with her dad, helping out around the place. “It feels like I lost a dear friend. I cried more tears than I expected,” she said.

Bud DeRyke said his brother Dave DeRyke ran the business until his death last year. Dave DeRyke’s son Lance DeRyke had been running it since then.

A post on the business’ Facebook page offered hope of a return, at some point.

“It is with a sad heart that I report that Topper Bakery caught on fire late last night!” the post reads, noting that damages are still being assessed. “Thank you for all of your support over the years! We will keep you posted on what is going on and when we can reopen.”

Similarly, Ladawn Ornelas, who lives nearby, expressed hope that the owners could bounce back. She grew up in the area and recalled, as a child, getting free donuts from bakery operators, who would slip neighbor kids the goods from the back door.

“Their donuts, their cookies — all their baked goods are so good,” she said. “They’re an awesome bakery.”

Aside from wedding cakes, Christmas cookies, donuts and other goods, Topper also made buns for Burger Bar, the Roy hamburger eatery and another local culinary institution.

“Obviously we’re devastated for them and their family,” said Joe Fowler, the Burger Bar manager. Topper has supplied buns to Burger Bar for around 30 years.

Fowler, who’s been in touch with Topper reps, said Burger Bar has made arrangements for other buns, which he hopes is just a temporary arrangement until the bakery starts producing again. “We’re looking forward to having them back fairly soon. … They are looking at every option to get back and going again,” he said.

A press release from the Ogden Fire Department said reports of the fire came in a little past 10 p.m. on Monday. The structure was deemed to be empty, with a portion of the fire, at least, focused in an overhead attic space. There were no injuries connected to the incident.

“This business has been a staple in the Ogden community for over 82 years, we are all saddened by this incident and hope for a speedy recovery for all involved,” the release said. In determining the building a total loss, the department estimated the damage total to be $250,000.

The investigation into the fire continued Tuesday.

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