‘Merry Christmas, find a new place.’ Bluffton baker says his lease not renewed

Midnight Baker owner Robert Plantadis says he received an notice that he would need to find a new location Tuesday from his landlords.

The French chef said a letter notifying him of the sale of the building on Old Town Bluffton’s Promenade was hand delivered to him.

It notifies Plantadis that he must be out of the building owned by State of Mind Partners by Jan. 31 because the new owners will not be renewing the lease. The letter does not say who the building was sold to.

“Merry Christmas, find a new place,” Plantadis said Wednesday. “If I was given six months to a year, it would have given me time to set up somewhere else.”

Plantadis has been running the bakery for several years, he said. He had plans to turn another unit in the building into a bistro. However, he said these plans were slowed down by state and town regulations.

“I understand the real estate game they play,” Plantadis said. “I’m sure the new owner has a great idea and a plan and are trying to come into the market at the prime time.”

The hope would be to continue operating a bakery in Bluffton, Plantadis said.

Plantadis, a native of Antibes, France, started selling his baked goods at Bluffton’s Farmers Market several years before opening at the site.

“I made my name here,” Plantadis said. “I also have amazing support.”

As of right now, Plantadis said he doesn’t know what the future holds.

This story was originally published December 13, 2017 at 5:50 PM with the headline "‘Merry Christmas, find a new place.’ Bluffton baker says his lease not renewed."