In the early 1920’s, Harry Cohen moved from the Bronx with his family to Ellenville, NY, and opened Cohen’s Quality Bakery. The bakery was not located at its present site, but started out on Canal Street in Ellenville, then another location on Center Street, and finally ended up in the red brick building at 89 Center Street. Upon Harry’s passing, his son, Willie, along with his youngest brother, Ruby, took over the operation and management of their father’s legacy. In 1966 Willie suddenly passed away, leaving the business to Ruby, who was the sole proprietor of the bakery. For more than 45 years, Ruby upheld the level of excellence established by his father so many years ago.

In 2003, due to Ruby’s failing health, Bill Tochterman and Fouad Kerendian purchased the “Cohen’s Bakery” name, business, and the time-honored Cohen recipes. For the first time in almost 90 years, the bakery is no longer owned by the Cohen family, yet the breads and bake goods are as wonderful as the first day it opened.

 In 1962 Helmut Leunissen, a certified German baker, came to the Catskills and baked at the famous hotels and also at Katz’s Bakery until 1986. At that time Helmut (known as Eddie) joined Ruby Cohen and has been here ever since.

 Diane and Beverly Cohen, the daughters of the late Willie Cohen, have moved back to upstate New York and have started the business of selling Cohen’s Bakery breads and baked goods at a Farmer’s Market in Dutchess County. They do business under the name of the “Famous Cohen Sisters” and have been extremely successful. Customers are constantly telling them wonderful, nostalgic stories of the bakery, their father, and their Uncle Ruby. And, of course, there are always those who are thrilled to again have Cohen’s raisin pumpernickel or corn rye they remember from their summers in the Catskills. Who said you can’t go home again? The Famous Sisters beg to differ!