A beloved Sydney bakery has closed after 14 years in business, with owners saying they were “finally overcome” by rising costs and rents.

The owners of Organic Republic Bakery in Bondi posted a heartbreaking note in the window of the store on August 15, thanking customers for all the years of ‘love’ but said they could no longer afford to operate.

“A warm, heartfelt thank you to the Bondi community for all the love over the years and to all the coffee drinkers and bread eaters,” the note said.

The small bakery was heavily focused on sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint, and had built up a loyal following of likeminded customers over the years who showed their devastation at the closure by leaving notes of their own.

One note, accompanied by a sad face drawing, simply said, “My toast will never be the same.”

“The best people and coffee,” another customer wrote.

One customer posted on Facebook, calling for the crisis to be addressed:

“Our beloved bakery #organicrepublicbakery is now closed. how many breads, spelt scones and more we had and enjoyed. Also, this place was a community hub for locals,” wrote Carlos Agamez Garcia.