The Gold Crust Baking Company on East Monroe Avenue will relocate from its Alexandria location to a larger facility in Landover, Md., early next year.

Gold Crust will more than triple its size at a new location, occupying more than 100,000 square feet to accommodate its rapid growth. The bakery currently operates out of a 30,000-square-foot building at 501 East Monroe Avenue. At its spacious new location, Gold Crust plans to expand its frozen product line and eliminate its retail store.

When asked what will happen to customers hollering for their challah bread, a manager who chose not to be identified shared, "You guys are outta luck." 

The company has been at their current location for 10 years and quickly gained popularity  in Alexandria as a specialty retailer of artisan breads and baked goods at wholesale prices. The bakery produces products for hotels, restaurants, delis and catering companies in the Mid-Atlantic region. 

In a statement released Nov. 4, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley expressed his support of the move.  

"Gold Crust Baking Co.'s decision to move its operations to Maryland speaks to the quality of our workforce, our strategic location on the East Coast and the supportive business climate that the State and our partners in Prince George's County offer to businesses," the statement read.

O'Malley and the Maryland Economic Development Corporation make the move worth Gold Crust's while by providing tax-exempt financing, allowing the company to borrow money at a lower rate as well as qualify for tax credits that ease the cost of hiring as the company expands.

Well loved by Yelp users (with a coveted 5 of 5 stars), Gold Crust will be missed in the Del Ray neighborhood. Local resident Kit Crumbley said he will miss the products as much as the olfactory perks. 

"Well, obviously, it's a blow to the neighborhood. I'll miss not being able to stop in and get a fresh loaf of bread at a price far below what you'd find at retail," Crumbley said. "But I expect I'll miss the smell of baking bread in the air even more!"

Gold Crust is still taking orders for holiday pies.