Published on: Wednesday, December 01, 2010

By Kyle Taylor

To no one’s surprise, the tough economy has made money tight across the entire state as well as the nation.

Despite this, one company plans on bringing some dough to Prince George’s County — literally.

Gold Crust Baking Company, a family-owned wholesale bakery that specializes in breads and rolls, is relocating its operations from Alexandria, Va., to Landover.

The company, which has been in operation since 2000, manufactures more than 200 million pounds of dough per year for hotels, restaurants, country clubs and catering companies in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Nausika Lyubinsky, vice president and co-owner of Gold Crust, said the company outgrew its space in Alexandria and the new location in Columbia Park was attractive due to its cost and proximity to both Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.

“We felt that Maryland had a lot of benefits to offer,” she said. “We found a facility and the price was right, so we decided to do it. We wanted to stay close enough to the D.C. area, so it was very attractive just calling over the river.”

Lyubinsky said the company had been looking for a new location for about two years in the surrounding areas as well.

Those areas’ loss is Landover’s gain, as the company plans on aiding the local economy with numerous job openings — a fact recognized by Maryland’s governor.

“Gold Crust Baking Company’s decision to move its operations to Maryland speaks to the quality of our workforce, our strategic location on the East Coast and the supportive business climate that the state and our partners in Prince George’s County offer to businesses.

“We are continuing to work hard to attract new companies to Maryland, help our existing companies expand and improve the conditions that allow businesses — large, medium and small — to create and save jobs,” Gov. Martin O’Malley said in a statement.

Lyubinsky said she anticipates at least 50 job openings in positions including administrative assistants, mechanics and baking technicians. She still hopes, however, some of their current workers will make the move with them too.

“We’re hoping that some of our workers will come with us, but we understand that we’ll be losing a lot,” Lyubinsky said. “That being said, there will be a lot of open positions because we’re moving to a bigger facility. We’re creating so many jobs from the get go. I hope that’s a good way of putting people to work — that’s important.”

The company, which recently celebrated its ten year anniversary, will be completely moved into its new home by January, Lyubinsky said. It will begin some baking there shortly thereafter.

The new facility is planned be up and running for business by the spring of 2011, something Lyubinsky anxiously looks forward to as Gold Crust engrains itself in its new community.

“We’re very, very excited about our move,” she said. “We’re going to be here for quite some time. Everyone in Maryland has been so encouraging, and it has just made moving here much more easier for us.”