Employee shortage shutters Prantl's Bakery stores in North Huntingdon, Squirrel Hill

Prantl’s Bakery is temporarily closing its North Huntingdon and Squirrel Hill stores starting next week because of a lack of employees, owner Joe Cugliari said.

He said a store needs about 10 employees to function properly.

“We were operating with four,” he said.

It’s a problem many businesses have been facing for at least the past year as the nation emerged from the coronavirus pandemic and its restrictions. Staffing shortages have been felt in a variety of industries. The Associated Press reported in May that hiring and retaining employees remained the top challenge for small businesses, according to a survey of 1,100 businesses by Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Voices.

The lure of working alongside Prantl’s famous burnt almond torte has not been enough to build the workforce at the bakery’s two newest locations. Cugliari said he hopes to have enough employees in North Huntingdon and Squirrel Hill by the busy holiday season and reopen.

In the meantime, the hours for stores in Greensburg, Shadyside and the North Side are being expanded starting Tuesday. Those stores will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and on Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Online and telephone orders and delivery will continue to be available at the North Huntingdon store Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cugliari purchased Prantl’s in October 2020.

The business at the North Huntingdon and Squirrel Hill stores, which opened after Cugliari took over, has been growing, he said. But without appropriate staff levels, it lessens the experience for customers.

“We can’t execute it because we don’t have the people,” he said. “Hopefully, if we can put a staff together, I’d like to open soon again. We have to have a staff together to do it.”

Job openings are listed at prantlsbakery.com/career-opportunities, and applications can be completed there. Open spots include cake designer/decorator, cookie decorator, counter person/customer service, baker assistant and driver.