Raul Porto Sr., the co-founder of considered one of Southern California's most iconic and beloved Cuban bakeries, Porto's Bakery, handed away on Could 22, 2024. The bakery introduced the information on Instagram final Friday, the Could 24, writing that “he died.” peacefully Wednesday surrounded by his loving household on the age of 92 years.
In keeping with the Los Angeles Instances, Porto opened the unique bakery together with his spouse, Rosa, in 1976 in an Echo Park strip mall. The couple moved the enterprise to Glendale in 1982 the place they developed a big following for reasonably priced Cuban pastries comparable to signature refugasos (guava and cheese strudel), tortas and potato balls.
The Portos arrived in California in 1971, becoming a member of a big Cuban group in Los Angeles. Rosa beforehand bought truffles from dwelling in Cuba and continued to take action after settling in america earlier than opening the Echo Park storefront with a financial institution mortgage. On the time, Porto labored in a unique bakery and as a janitor in one other enterprise whereas serving to his spouse Porto in his spare time. Finally, he joined full-time to assist develop it.
Portos' three youngsters, Beatriz, Raul Jr., and Margarita, helped out on the bakery after college and on weekends, finally taking up management roles within the enterprise. The three youngsters proceed to drive the expansion of the corporate and launched the nationwide supply of Porto merchandise in 2018.
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In 2006, the enterprise expanded from its longtime Glendale retailer to Burbank and has since grown to quite a few areas round Southern California, together with Buena Park, Downey, Northridge and West Covina. The bakery's newest enlargement is coming to Downtown Disney later this yr. Each place continues to attract lengthy traces for tres leches truffles, Cuban sandwiches, pastries and salads.
Porto retired from enterprise a number of years in the past to give attention to elevating his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The bakery's Instagram announcement described Raul Sr. as “humble”, including that “he balanced his roles as a husband, father and devoted businessman, inspiring all who knew him together with his ardour and dedication”. His spouse Rosa Porto died in 2019 on the age of 89.
