Latrobe in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Dainty Pastry Shoppe
A Small Business Success Story
| | Certified Historic Latrobe Property | |
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 22, 2021
1. Dainty Pastry Shoppe Marker
"Come as a customer, leave as a friend."
--Robert Colaianne
The first building on this site was the Methodist Episcopal Church built in 1856 [top left photo]. From 1886 to 1952 a number of businesses occupied the building until it was razed.
By 1954, the present building was built for the Theron C. Smith Mercury Dealership. [left center photo]
Meanwhile, Robert N. Colaianne had started Dainty Pastry in 1947. He baked out of his home on Miller St. and his son, Robert J. (Bob) drove the truck for retail and wholesale deliveries. In 1950 he bought the building on Ligonier St. pictured here [top center photo]. In 1971 Bob bought the business and in 1975 he and his wife, Juanita purchased the building from Theron C. Smith and it has been the successful, family operated business since.
[Right side photo captions, from top to bottom, read]
Bob Colaianne in the 1950s
Jeff and Cathy (Colaianne) Kasper in the 1990s
Curt and Jim Colaianne in the early 1990s
David Colaianne 1983
Dainty Pastry storefront in the 1970s. Juanita Colaianne is behind the counter.
Erected by Latrobe Community Revitalization Program.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work
this page online
Location. 40° 19.069′ N, 79° 23.036′ W. Marker is in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, in Westmoreland County. It is on Depot Street (Pennsylvania Route 981) west of Alexandria Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 339 Depot Street, Latrobe PA 15650, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Laurel Highlands and in Greater Pittsburgh. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Veterans Memorial (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Second Ward School and Bell (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Veterans Memorial (about 400 feet away); Citizens National Bank of Latrobe (about 500 feet away); Pennsylvania Railroad (about 500 feet away); The Banana Split (about 500 feet away); Latrobe Presbyterian Church (about 600 feet away); Historic/Famous Latrobe Pennsylvania (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Latrobe.
Also see . . .
1. Dainty Pastry Shoppe on Facebook. (Submitted on October 24, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. The Latrobe Community Revitalization Program. (Submitted on October 24, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Additional commentary.
1.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 22, 2021
2. Dainty Pastry Shoppe and Marker
Dainty Pastry is gone now. It was struck by lightning in a summer storm in 2021 and the resulting fire did a lot of damage. A recent article said otherwise (perhaps they were still hopeful), but they are not rebuilding, according to the co-owner.
— Submitted October 10, 2024.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 14, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 24, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 779 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 24, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
