Utah cafe chain swiftly shutters 6 Valley restaurants

Kneaders Bakery & Cafe quietly closed outposts from Gilbert’s SanTan Village to Surprise. Here's where you can still visit.

By Sara Crocker

March 13, 2025

Image: Kneaders Bakery & Cafe, a all-day chain with 11 Valley locations, closed six on Wednesday, March 12. In addition to its baked goods, the cafe is known for its thick-sliced French toast.

Kneaders Bakery & Cafe, a all-day chain with 11 Valley locations, closed six on Wednesday, March 12. In addition to its baked goods, the cafe is known for its thick-sliced French toast. Kneaders

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Kneaders Bakery & Cafe, a Utah-based chain, abruptly closed six of its 11 locations around the Valley on Wednesday.

Kneaders locations in Ahwatukee, Avondale, Chandler, Gilbert’s SanTan Village, Surprise and Tempe have closed, according to staff who answered calls to each restaurant. These shuttered locations have been removed from the cafe’s website and listed as “permanently closed” on their Google business profiles. A request for comment from the company was not immediately returned.

The European-style bakery and cafe originally debuted in the Valley in 2013, opening its doors in Gilbert at Baseline and Highley roads. Kneaders is a fast-casual restaurant serving breads and pastries, along with morning bites such as French toast and overnight oats, followed by sandwiches, salads and soups.

Kneaders was founded by Colleen and Gary Worthington in Orem, Utah, in 1997. In the years since, the cafe has grown into a multi-state chain with 27 restaurants spanning Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Texas and Utah.

Five Kneaders cafes in Gilbert, Glendale, Mesa and Queen Creek remain open, along with two in Yuma, according to the cafe’s website.

Sara Crocker is a staff writer for Phoenix New Times where she focuses primarily on food. She began freelancing for New Times in July 2022 and joined the staff in February 2023. Prior to New Times, Sara worked for publications such as The Denver Post, Phoenix Magazine, Phoenix Home & Garden and Colorado Life Magazine. When she’s not reporting on the Valley’s dining scene, Sara brews beer at home and is an avid cook.

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