The Montclair Girl Team 
Chef Natalie Lee, the chef and owner of Montclair’s Plum Bakery and Mikki + Al’s Noshery, announced the closure of both businesses and her retirement. The sister businesses were located at 179 Glenridge Avenue. Read on for more about what we know about the closure of Plum Bakery and Mikki + Al’s Noshery.
About the Businesses
Natalie Lee is a lifelong chef and grew up working at her family’s bakery in Clifton, Styertowne Bakery. She originally opened the restaurant Plum on Park in 2010 at 179 Glenridge Avenue in Montclair. Over time, demand for the restaurant’s baked goods, and in particular, gluten-free versions, led Natalie to open Plum Bakery in 2015, in the space next door.
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Natalie told The Montclair Girl in a 2021 interview that the business was hit hard by the pandemic, which is what motivated her pivot into Mikki + Al’s Noshery. She said, “The initial thought was to reopen Plum. When it became apparent that COVID-19 was not going away, I decided to permanently close Plum and open the Noshery in its place. Plum was a very fresh-based restaurant—the food was best when eaten there […] Mikki and Al’s is a place where takeout is a great option.”
Mikki + Al’s opened in the summer of 2020. She says she was inspired by her in-laws and wanted to make a space that they would have enjoyed. The menu is filled with Jewish comfort-food classics like matzoh ball soup and pastrami sandwiches.
Mikki + Al’s quickly became popular for its hearty sandwiches and home-style cooking. Plum Bakery was a staple for gluten-free diners in Montclair.
What’s Next
In an Instagram post on July 17th, 2026, Chef Natalie shared that both businesses were now closed.
When I was a little girl at my parents’ bakery, my father would give me a milk crate to stand on so I could reach the table and fold delicate squares of pastry dough filled with plum jam into cookies. I would watch Julia Child on TV and be mesmerized by her. I knew then that this was what I wanted to do.
After over 40 years of working in professional kitchens, 16 of those years in Montclair, I have decided it is time for me to retire. Although I am hanging up my apron on the professional side, I will never stop loving to cook and bake. It was and always will be my true passion.
I will be sharing recipes that I have made over the years at Plum on Park, Plum Bakery, Mikki and Al’s Noshery, and my personal favorite recipes online at Around Natalie’s Table.
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