Holsum Bakery, 299 West Charleston Blvd – c. 1960s
Photo, “courtesy of Lapour Partners,” from Las Vegas Review-Journal, 11/23/2003
John Runyan bought Costello’s Bakery at 1021 Fremont St in the 40s, and renamed it after his daughter Gail. Later owners Margaret & George Harkess relocated Gail’s Bakery operations to new plant at 299 W Charleston Blvd, which opened Sep. 20, 1954.
George Franklin Sr. was the designer and builder. YESCO did the sign: A clock, with Gail’s Bread … Hours Fresher.
Aerial photos of the 50s-60s show what appears to be four separate buildings that make up the present 241-299 W Charleston complex, two on the west including the building with the Holsum facade, and two on the east. The building in the center was added in ‘63/64.
Gail’s Bakery became Southern Nevada’s Holsum bread supplier. Harkess sold the business in ’60 and the land in ’70. In the early 2000s Jeff Lapour redeveloped the complex into its present space, preserving the original sign.
Opening of Gail’s New Bakery. Las Vegas Review-Journal, 9/20/54 p8; Pioneering Las Vegas bakery owner Harkess dies at 85. Las Vegas Sun, 11/9/99; Nick Haley. Holsum … from loaves to lofts. Las Vegas Review-Journal, 11/23/2003.
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