Flowers Bakery Building: Whitney Peckman and Syed Ahmed

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 2, 2009

In 1905 at 123 N. Main St., A. G. Peeler opened Bamby Bakers. It produced the “Best American-made bread yet.” In the 1930s, the bakery, by now a retail and wholesale operation, expanded into a two-story addition, part of which is now 120 East Innes Street. Bamby merged with Flowers Industries in 1969. Bread production ceased in 1986 and the company closed permanently two years later. Peckman and Ahmed began rehabilitating their half of the building in January 2005. His fused-glass studio is located on the first floor; her decorative gourd studio occupies part of their second floor residence. This artistic couple has adaptively reused an industrial site and their own eclectic furnishings. Look for the Victorian loveseat that is now the headboard in the master bedroom and an industrial dolly that houses a flat screen television. Two early 19th century portraits descended in Whitney’s family. A wide wooden ramp on the second floor was preserved. Historic Salisbury Foundation gave the present owners and their friends next door a preservation award in 2007. Don’t miss this creative loft apartment and studio!