New Bedford’s ‘New Bedfort’ Meats and Bakery Sign Mystery

Have you ever noticed something so strange that you had to do a double take?

That’s exactly what happened to me while driving through New Bedford’s South End, when I spotted an unusual sign outside a local bakery and meat shop.

At the corner of County and Delano Streets, New Bedford Bakery and Meats is a small Guatemalan bakery known for its affordable prices, choice cut meats and delicious treats. What really caught people’s attention, however, wasn’t the aroma of fresh-baked goods; it was the sign out front.

Instead of “New Bedford,” the sign and banners on the building proudly displayed “New Bedfort.”

Naturally, this raised a lot of questions.

Was it an intentional play on words? A quirky marketing stunt, like the once-popular Yor Dogg Mil on Kempton Street? Or maybe even a reference to Fort Rodman in the South End?

Something didn’t add up.

After a little investigating (and some help from my good friend Benny Olmeda, who came in clutch as a Spanish translator), the truth finally surfaced: the sign was simply a mistake.

The family-owned bakery had hired MDC Signs Printing LLC, a company based in Cranston, Rhode Island, to create the signage. During the design and approval process, the spelling error was overlooked by both parties. Making matters worse, the installation company’s bucket lift was out of commission, delaying any immediate fix.

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Once the mistake was realized, the bakery’s owners made multiple calls to get it corrected. Miguel, the owner of MDC Signs, assured Fun 107 that despite the miscommunication, he would replace the sign and banners at no extra cost.

Now that the issue is being resolved, the bakery can get back to what it does best: serving up fresh Guatemalan sweet bread for just $1. Be warned: if you want to grab some, you’d better get there early before it sells out.