After more than 80 years serving up bread, sandwiches and donuts across the Island, the last Humphreys Bakery location will shut down in May, putting an end to an Island mainstay that spans three generations.
After more than 80 years serving up bread, sandwiches and donuts across the Island, the last Humphreys Bakery location will shut its doors in May. The closure puts an end to an Island mainstay that spans three generations.
The decision was not an easy one, said owner Donna Diaz.
“I can’t even really put it into words how I’m feeling, I’ll get emotional saying it, but I just appreciate everybody so much,” she said in a recent interview. “Now it’s time to just do other things...I’m getting older, and I want more time with my grandkids.”
The current iteration, called Life at Humphreys, is located in Vineyard Haven in the Woodland Village complex. It opened in 2005 and in 2018 formed a partnership with the former Slice of Life restaurant.
Prior locations included stores in Edgartown and Oak Bluffs, and the iconic West Tisbury bakery at the corner of State and North Roads, across the street from the historic oak tree that marks the turn to Menemsha.
Edgartown storefront at Winter street was part of the expansion of the franchise.
Edgartown storefront at Winter street was part of the expansion of the franchise.
But the story begins nearly a century ago, when Ms. Diaz’s grandfather, Argie Humphreys, began selling baked goods at the Farmer’s Cooperative Market, a predecessor to the West Tisbury Farmer’s market that ran from 1936 to 1941.
In 1942, he opened a storefront on Vineyard Haven’s main street called Vineyard Food Shop, which began as a cooperative market but shifted to focus on Argie’s baked goods. Argie stayed at that location, the current site of Waterside Market, until 1952 when he moved it to West Tisbury, a daring move according to Ms. Diaz.
“There were a lot of doubters because at the time no businesses left Main Street,” she said. “He did a really bold move.”
Reporting on the change in locations, the Vineyard Gazette noted that only a few businesses had made the move to that part of West Tisbury since 1900.
“Westward the course of empire makes its way, even on the Vineyard,” the Gazette wrote.
But it turned out to be a shrewd decision, with many devoted customers making the pilgrimage from all over the Island.
Marcos Alves baking the bread at West Tisbury location.
Marcos Alves baking the bread at West Tisbury location.
“He grew it and added on to the building and added more products and just kept going with it until he retired sometime in the 70s,” Ms. Diaz said.
Argie’s son Bart, Ms. Diaz’s uncle, took over the business after his father stepped down. Ms. Diaz began working there as a child, eventually taking over the business in 1992 with her then-husband, Michael Diaz.
“Mike actually worked with Bart and learned how to make all the bread,” she said. “He worked with him for a long time to really learn the family recipes. He busted his butt working there.”
It was under the Diaz’s that the brand saw its most explosive period of growth, with the pair expanding the store’s donut and sandwich options, and opening the Edgartown and Oak Bluffs locations.
“It just sort of blew up after we took it over,” she said. “We added sandwiches, added a deli, added a whole bunch of new stuff.”
But in 2004, following the death of Bart Humphreys, there was an ownership dispute among the surviving relatives.
“There ended up being a big family dispute when my uncle died,” she said. “You know how family stuff goes.”
Bart’s sister Joyce Humphreys inherited the West Tisbury building and sued Michael and Donna for use of the Humphreys name, which they had copyrighted. The Diaz’s ultimately kept control of the business and the name but had to vacate the West Tisbury storefront, prompting them to open the Vineyard Haven location, while continuing to run for a time the Edgartown and Oak Bluffs stores.
After her divorce, Ms. Diaz brought in Slice of Life chef Peter Smyth as a business partner in 2018, merging their brands and recipes. Since Mr. Smyth joined the fold, she said, his fried green tomato sandwich has joined the Humphreys Turkey Gobbler sandwich as one of their most popular items.
Through the past two decades of change, even as the franchise shrunk to just one location, Ms. Diaz said a strong sense of history remained.
“What I do love, and I feel really blessed about in my particular business, is that when I’m behind the counter and talking to the customers on a daily basis, I still to this day have people that come in and say, I worked for your grandfather, I had my first job here when I was 15 years old,” she said.
“That’s actually the piece that’s making it the hardest for me. I know it’s the right time. But I’m also really, really sad to lose that and I’m sad for all the customers.”
Ms. Diaz said she will shift into semi-retirement, working part time at a nonprofit and taking the summer holidays off for the first time in decades. She and her daughter are also working on a Humphreys recipe cookbook.
“I’m sorry that another piece of Vineyard history is going but it will come back in a different form, I’m sure,” she said. “I just feel really, really lucky and thankful.”
Life at Humphreys final day is May 15.
Editor's note: the writer is not related to the Humphreys family.
Comments
RIP Humphrey's, what a loss.
Susan PennsylvaniaRIP Humphrey's, what a loss.
That large Humphrey's sign over the door wasn't there as I recall, just the small sign affixed to the door.
Was this photo earlier or later, does anyone know?
I am absolutely gutted. I l
Joe Regan Oklahoma CityI am absolutely gutted. I l bought a Gobbler every time I visited family on the island.
During the 80s and 90s I
George Goolkasian Houston, TexasDuring the 80s and 90s I enjoyed Humphreys in West Tisbury and Isabella White up the road at the Scottish Bakehouse. Both spots had great baked goods and personality. Will Holtham was running the Homeport during those years and there was no better place to get fresh, well prepared seafood. Three great businesses gone but not forgotten.
Well, I've got some good news
Ted WTWell, I've got some good news for you. Scottish Bakehouse is still going strong.
The Turkey Gobbler was second
rob the roofer new jerseyThe Turkey Gobbler was second to none. My second go to was the Gobbler from Skinny Fats both just a memory.
SECOND TO NONE, FOR SURE!
IVY miami, flSECOND TO NONE, FOR SURE!
Farewell to my favorite
Say It Ain’t So! MassachusettsFarewell to my favorite oatmeal raisin cookies!
This one stings and it will
Lisa W North AndoverThis one stings and it will be sorely missed.
If you could, please, please, please, in the recipe book, include the recipe for the chocolate cookies with walnuts that I haven’t seen in years. They were the absolute best. Like a cross between a cookie and a brownie. I spent my childhood summers in the 70’s and 80’s just a short stroll down State Rd from the old store in North Tisbury. I spent subsequent decades chasing those cookies around the Island until they seemed to be discontinued in recent years. I would desperately love to try to recreate them at home. Thank you for a lifetime of memories.
Lot's of fond Memoirs at the
Jeff Baker Prospect MaineLot's of fond Memoirs at the West Tisbury store,hot fresh donuts by Bart,The King's and the Olson's would keep Bart on his toes ! I worked for Bill King at the time and It was a small very clean place to just sit down and just relax with great people .
Just another sad part of the Vineyard I enjoyed as a kid and later in my adult life that the kids today will not have the gift that I had .
P.S The Gobbler at woodland was my favorite also been about 5 years I am sorry that its gone .
Dear Donna, I wish you much
Susan S NTisDear Donna, I wish you much happiness. As much as the memories are part of the best part of what the Island and its businesses have offered I certainly understand. You and all the goodies will be terribly missed. Thank you for all you have done over the years to keep the memories alive. ❤️❤️
Miss walking in barefoot,
Margot Lane MenemshaMiss walking in barefoot,
hearing the screen door slam.
My parents rented the
Brian Cullinane Fairfax, CaliforniaMy parents rented the "Topside" cottage in Menemsha for a couple of weeks each summer back in the 1970's . On Sunday morning we'd all pile into our 1967 dark blue Pontiac Safari station wagon and make the trip up island to West Tisbury and Humphrey's Bakery. Back then we'd get the blueberry pies from the Homeport Restaurant BUT ONLY Humphrey's had those magnificent fluffy jelly donuts. Light and airy... Oh the wonderful Vineyard memories!
Bart hired my son, his first
Robert West TisburyBart hired my son, his first job, in August one summer, and paid him the same summer bonus as the older college kids. We still love their jelly donuts!
Very sad indeed. I really
Sarah Mayhew Davis, CA & West TisburyVery sad indeed. I really missed the old Humphry's in North Tisbury. Went there often as a child for their yummy raised doughnuts and Humphry's cookies were always our favorite! I will look forward to the cookbook!
First Chilmark Chocolates and
Julie Farr Upstate New YorkFirst Chilmark Chocolates and now Humphrey’s! I’ve been coming to the Vineyard for 3 decades and getting a Turkey Gobbler to take to Lambert’s Cove was the first thing we’d do once we got to the island! And I still make your recipe for Buttercrunch cookies every summer! I hope that another island institution might pick up the Gobbler mantle…7a perhaps?
I was among those who worked
Miranda Haydn Glenford, NYI was among those who worked at Humphrey's in North Tisbury - the early morning shift. I was there in September until Argie closed for the winter. He was always there first and the baking was under way by the time I got there at 7:00. Bart was there making bread. All the women who worked there wore the pink pinafore apron dress uniform as requested. I rode my bike from Indian Hill Road. Never a cross word and a sense of humor which was appreciated especially early in the morning. Yes the buttercrunch cookies were famous. And a favorite. Looking forward to the cookbook too. Good Luck!!
My brother Terry Eglinas /
Sheryl Ryland Gainesville FloridaMy brother Terry Eglinas / White Brothers Construction would stop in for a bag of delicious warm sugar donuts when doing a job up Island. Couldn’t go by without stopping and so happy you did get those great fruit squares and Oatmeal bread. Such great memories. So happy we got to be part of years of memories. Thank you Dona and family. Enjoy your retirement and think of all the years you made so many people very happy.
So sorry to hear of your
Jeff Baker Prospect MaineSo sorry to hear of your brothers passing Sheryl,yes when I worked for White Bros.
it was great to go with Terry to get donuts and coffee for the crew.
I also loved the doughnut holes when I was driving a truck.
So sad so many people that I grew up with are gone,I was 12 when
my dad put in the road to Longview and a childhood thrill was riding on the 955 with Alby White.
Thank you Jeff for the nice
Sheryl Ryland Gainesville FloridaThank you Jeff for the nice memories you shared about Terry my brother was a special guy and I miss him terribly.So heartbroken. Glad you enjoyed those great donuts all those years.
Had a summer job there in
DC New York, NYHad a summer job there in 1980 or 81. Best part was learning to fill the jelly donuts!
As a kid growing up I used to
Ron Borges Littleton,, Ma.As a kid growing up I used to pick wild blueberries with my Mom and aunts. We fill tin cans on ropes and then take them to Humphrey’s back door and sell them. 30 cents a pint. 60 cents a quart. Took a lot of blueberries to make some cash but Argy was always fun to talk with. He always had a flour-covered apron on, a smile and a free cookie for doing a good job with the blueberries. Great memories of a piece of a great place and time to grow up.
Sad to hear.. always made it
James BronxSad to hear.. always made it a stop for a sandwich when visiting MV.. always tasty
Wow, I remember going to the
Joseph Nicklow MichiganWow, I remember going to the Humphreys West Tisbury location my first year on the island, 1994. It became the go to every time I headed up island, the gobbler and tree hugger. All good, and all great memories. You will definitely be missed!
The Gobbler for a dear friend
Diane Kretschmann Chilmark and ConnecticutThe Gobbler for a dear friend, the Cuban for my husband, and a shared Californian for a friend and me… our first stop in Woodland after getting off the ferry. Years ago when we travelled with our young daughter we would drive the 1970 Dodge Dart in the early morning to North Tisbury for blueberry muffins and packages of yummy cookies. And the sight of local workmen drinking coffee and making conversation was a daily sight that still makes me smile. Farewell. You will be missed.
I imagine the island’s
Adam KatamaI imagine the island’s turkeys are breathing a sigh of relief…..
Sorry to see it go.
Best sandwiches I ever had in
Jesse BrookylnBest sandwiches I ever had in my life. What a loss.
The history that I read as I
Susan of OB West Hartford CTThe history that I read as I peruse the comments -- blueberry picking/tin cans/string, the Pontiac Safari station wagon, the Dodge Dart -- but more so, the love shared for the food prepared with care. Glad to have had some Humphrey's in my life -- The Gobbler, classic!
Humphrey’s answered our
Deborah Bargon Oak BluffsHumphrey’s answered our prayers when Peter Smyth joined after Slice closed. We wait in anxious breath where we will drive to next for all our favorites!
I remember reading the guest
Stanley Bornstein Newton maI remember reading the guest sign in book. It was a who’s who of locals, visitors, and famous people leaving their comments. The Humphreys experience was what we all had in common. Anyone know what happened to that book? It should be published!
We’ve been coming to the
Babs Reiff West TisburyWe’ve been coming to the Vineyard every summer since 1991. My fondest memories included taking a gobbler to the beach and then when we had grandchildren, taking them to Humphrey’s in their pajamas so they could pick out jelly donuts.
We will miss this wonderful landmark
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