What’s Old Is New at Miel

By Ashley Primis

Longtime loyalists of Miel Patisserie, the pastry shop with outposts in Cherry Hill and Center City, noticed something amiss in late 2007. Prices were rising, service was plummeting, and the menu seemed to be stagnating. The decline started after the August 2007 sale of the business. Miel’s original owner, Marshall Weinerman, decided to retire and sold the shop to a group of investors called AR Cakes & Pastries. The two stores still operated under the Miel name, but customers knew it wasn’t the same. In fact, business got so bad that AR Cakes & Pastries went under, putting Miel up for sale again this past December.

Luckily, when Weinerman heard his old shops were for sale, he stepped out of retirement, reassembled the MVPs of his old team, including general manager Willard Weislogel and head pastry chef Sandy Valentine. After closing both stores briefly last month for a cosmetic facelift and overall of the equipment, the old Miel is back. The pastry menu has been retooled to reflect food trends (think pastry creams infused with fresh ginger), and prices have been rolled back, too. No breakfast item costs more than $2, whole cakes top out $25, and a cup of coffee is just $1.

Originally published on phillymag.com on February 23, 2009.

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User comments

original owner
Posted by Anonymous | Feb. 25, 2009 at 8:21 AM

COMMENT:

I thought the original owner of Miel was Robert Bennett? Your article says Mr. Weinerman was the original owner.

Bad business practices--STAY AWAY
Posted by Lauren | Feb. 25, 2009 at 8:26 AM

COMMENT:

I used Miel for a client's event and doubled my order the week of the event. The order was PAID IN FULL but shorted me the additional product I ordered. When I called to complain they said they do not give refunds and didn't have any product to deliver to fulfill my additional order for the event that night. I had to get desserts from another bakery-which the guests loved even better-(Naked Chocolate) to provide enough for my client that night

The Real Owner
Posted by Anonymous | Feb. 25, 2009 at 11:31 AM

COMMENT:

Mr. Weinerman is an investor who owns the Village Walk Shopping Center where the original Miel was located, Bob Bennett was a limited partner with Weinerman in Miel. Weierman also owns The Grand Summitt Hotel in Summitt New Jersey. As far as him being the original owner, I don't even think he could make toast let alone anything near what Bob Bennett could do. Believe me I know, I worked for him

Who is "AR Cakes & Pastries"?
Posted by Anonymous | Mar. 3, 2009 at 7:46 AM

COMMENT:

These "investors" owe me money. I need to locate Chet because he has written me several bad checks for services that I performed for his company in the Summer and Fall of 2008. He has changed his phone number and seemingly moved away from his shabby Voorhees apartment. I would GREATLY appreciate it if any contact information for the previous owner (Chet) could be emailed to me at clark.baeius@gmail.com . The sum that is owed is too small to be worth hiring a professional investigator but large enough for me to try finding this scum bag myself. I wish this dog all of the worst luck in the future.