2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26100379D

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 100

Offered February 11, 2026

Commending Corner Bakery.

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Patrons—DeSteph; Delegate: Bloxom

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WHEREAS, Corner Bakery, a family-owned business in Onancock and the oldest retail bakery on the Eastern Shore, has provided delicious, fresh baked goods and exceptional service to visitors and local residents for 46 years; and

WHEREAS, Corner Bakery was founded in January 1980 as the Convenience Store & Bakery by William H. “Bill” Phillips, whose family had worked as bakers in the region since the 1930s; and

WHEREAS, given its location on the corner of North Street and King Street in Onancock, the Convenience Store & Bakery quickly became known as Corner Bakery; and

WHEREAS, Bill Phillips relocated Corner Bakery to its current location on Market Street in 1997, then sold the business to longtime employee Connie Smith and her husband, Pete, in 1999; Bill Phillips proudly continued to work in the bakery from time to time until his passing at the age of 97; and

WHEREAS, Connie and Pete Smith worked diligently to uphold Bill Phillips's legacy of excellence, and all four of their children worked at Corner Bakery at some points during their childhoods; in 2008, their son, Pete Smith III, and daughter, Karen Edwards, became majority partners in the business; and

WHEREAS, under the leadership of the Smith family, Corner Bakery continues to serve the same homemade products that generations of customers have come to know and love, including cakes, cookies, biscuits, pies, rolls, and other baked goods; some of the recipes even date back to the late 1930s and early 1940s from Bill Phillips and his brother's earlier days in the business; and

WHEREAS, Corner Bakery is especially known for its fresh, hand-cut donuts and produces approximately 115,000 glazed donuts, 67,000 cream-filled donuts, 64,000 glazed twists, and 53,000 cinnamon twists every year; and

WHEREAS, Corner Bakery remains a cornerstone of local life in Onancock, not only playing an important role in the town's economy, but also contributing to its quaint, welcoming atmosphere; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Corner Bakery for its 46 years of service to the Onancock community; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Corner Bakery as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the bakery's history of contributions to the Eastern Shore as a family-owned business and longstanding commitment to providing high quality baked goods and unparalleled customer service.