If you live in Haddon Township, you already know this topic has taken on a life of its own. Group chats. Comment threads. Someone’s cousin’s friend who “heard something.” All of it circling one simple question: Is McMillan’s coming back?
Short answer: no. Longer answer: keep reading.
A true Haddon Township institution
For decades, McMillan's Bakery was more than just a bakery. It was part of the rhythm of town life. Early mornings to avoid the hordes while you wait for a fresh loaf of bread. Cream-filled donuts. Birthday cakes that showed up at every childhood party. The kind of place you didn’t need directions to because you’d been going there forever.
When McMillan’s closed, it wasn’t just another storefront going dark. It felt like the end of a small but meaningful chapter in Haddon Township’s story.
So when news broke that a new pastry shop would be opening in the same building, hope kicked in immediately. Same address. Same smell of baked goods, theoretically. Surely this meant a revival. Maybe even a quiet return of the legendary donuts...
The December clarification
In December, the McMillan family stepped in to clear up the confusion once and for all. They confirmed that they did not sell the McMillan’s name, trademark, recipes, or goodwill. There is no affiliation with the new business, no shared recipes, and no continuation of the McMillan’s brand.
Translation: what’s coming to 15 Haddon Ave is not McMillan’s 2.0. Not a reboot. Yes, it's the aame building, but it's a completely different bakery that will be opening in that spot.
So what is coming?
The new bakery will be operated by Tom Whitman, owner of Del Buono's Bakery, a well-known South Jersey bakery with a strong local following. Del Buono’s has built its reputation on classic Italian pastries, breads, and cakes, and while this new shop will be its own standalone concept, it comes with serious baking experience behind it.
Haddon Township can expect a new bakery, run by a seasoned baker, coming to a space that already means a lot to the community (what it won’t be is McMillan’s by another name).
Why the confusion makes sense
This whole situation got messy for one very human reason: nostalgia. Same location plus baked goods equals expectations. Add in decades of emotional attachment and it’s easy to see how rumors filled the gaps. No one was being dramatic on purpose. People just wanted a familiar comfort back. Hence the family taking to Facebook to announce, officially—once and for all, that the new bakery will not be affiliated with McMillan's in any way.
A very Haddon Township moment
All of this is unfolding in Haddon Township, a town that cares deeply about its local businesses and isn’t shy about showing it. That’s a good thing. It’s part of what makes this community feel tight-knit, opinionated, and fiercely loyal. It also means change is felt more sharply here. When something closes, people notice. When something new opens, expectations are high.
The real takeaway
McMillan’s is gone (and it’s okay to miss it 🫣). That bakery earned its place in local history. The new bakery coming to 15 Haddon Ave is something different: a fresh chapter, new recipes, exciting new flavors.
There’s no opening date yet, but when the doors do open, the best way to honor the past is simple: walk in curious, not comparative, of this brand new chapter for this Haddon Township business.
