Owners of China Pastry reflect on 32 years of business heading into retirement

After over 30 years of serving handmade Chinese buns, China Pastry’s original owners are moving on. Sierra D’Souza Butts has the story.

One couple who has been bringing handcrafted Chinese buns to Regina for over three decades are putting their baking trays to rest as they move into retirement.

Toni Wong’s love for baking goes back to when he was 18 years-old.

When he and his wife Sally moved from Hong Kong to Regina in 1993, the pair noticed there was something missing.

“There was no Chinese bakery here at the time, and that’s what he loved to do is baking,” Sally shared.

In hope of continuing his passion, the pair decided to open a bakery of their own a year later called China Pastry in Regina.

“At first it was not that busy, not many people knew of us. After a few years, it was word of mouth then more people tried and we got customers,” said Sally. “Then we got busier and busier.”

Thirty two years later, the small family run business has grown into a Queen City staple selling handcrafted barbecue buns, green onion cakes and other Asian bakery items to the community.

“Those recipes have been brought from there and ever since, we’ve used those recipes,” shared Elisa, one of Sally and Toni’s daughters.

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“Sometimes in Hong Kong, people make buns that are more fusion like so my dad’s buns are more original, more of what it was like back then. People really like that taste especially for those who immigrated here to Canada [and are] missing those flavors.”

Now as the couple prepares to retire, the shop will have new owners behind the oven.

Growing up around the business, Elisa said seeing her parents retire is a bittersweet feeling for her and her sister.

“When I was a baby they would bring me to the bakery and that’s where I kind of grew up, even the customers there they still remember me from when I was little,” she said smiling.

“Now that if I’m ever at the bakery here, they’ll come up to me like, ‘I remember when you were growing up, now you’re an adult,’ and whatnot, but I’m also happy that my parents are retiring because they definitely deserve the break.”

Sally said she is thankful to all of the customers that helped keep the bakery open for more than three decades.

“I just want to thank our customers. They are very, very nice to support us for 32 years,” she expressed.

“Lots of them when they came, they were a little kid, they came with their parents. Now they bring their kids.”

With new ownership taking over, the Chinese bakery will be temporarily closed with plans of re-opening on April 4.