WHAT: Porto’s Bakery and CafĂ© will host a Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony open to the Public.
WHEN: Tuesday, April 30, 2019 at 9:00 a.m.
Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 9:30 a.m.
Opening to the Public 11:00 a.m.
WHERE: Porto’s Bakery and CafĂ©
584 S. Sunset Avenue
West Covina, CA 91790
WHO: Porto’s Bakery and CafĂ©
City of West Covina City Council and Staff
About Porto’s Bakery and CafĂ©
Porto’s Bakery and CafĂ© (Porto’s) is inviting the public to celebrate the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of its fifth location. The first 500 customers will be receiving a Porto’s small goody bag.
Porto’s is a family-owned Cuban bakery, famous for its Potato Balls and Cheese Rolls. They also serve a wide assortment of pastries, specialty cakes, freshly baked breads, variety of savory sandwiches, and a selection of juices, smoothies, and coffee.
Porto’s was started by Rosa and Raul Porto Sr., who emigrated from Cuba to California in the 1960’s. Rosa’s exceptional baking skills and a dream for a better life led to the creation of Porto’s. They started off with a 300 square foot bakery in the Echo Park area of Los Angeles. In the 1980s, they transitioned to Glendale. Porto’s is now opening their 5th location, and the first in the San Gabriel Valley.
Each Porto’s location has a unique architecture and design and West Covina is no exception. Porto’s West Covina is a 21,943 square foot two-story building that features a 17,163 square foot bakery/cafe area, a 4,780 square foot second floor for office space, and a 2,547 square foot outdoor dining area. The massive bakery has a mid-century modern feel with a butterfly roof characterized by high ceilings and custom skylights.
Efforts to get Porto’s in West Covina started in 2010, when City staff initially reached out to Porto’s regarding development opportunities in West Covina. While Porto’s expressed interested in the community, it took several years working with City staff to locate a site suitable for Porto’s needs. Fortunately, in 2016, Porto’s purchased the former Crazy Horse property. In September of 2017, Porto’s obtained approval of its planning entitlements for the new building and in December of 2017 construction began.
Porto’s West Covina has transformed a challenging development site into a foodie destination for not only West Covina residents but food connoisseurs from all over the San Gabriel Valley. In addition, Porto’s has hired 300 part-time and full-time employees and is anticipated to generate $70,000 to $80,000 in annual sales tax to the City.
“It is a huge success to have Porto’s come to West Covina,” stated Mayor Lloyd Johnson. “We believe that our partnership with them is a symbol of the City’s continued commitment to attract quality businesses. Since it was announced in 2016, we’ve been receiving an overwhelming amount of excitement. We know it’s going to be very popular with our residents and we can’t wait for Porto’s to be successful in our City!”
West Covina is thrilled to finally announce that Porto’s West Covina is opening and invites residents and Porto’s fans to check it out!
About the City of West Covina
The City of West Covina (population 110,000) encompasses 16 square miles and is located in the San Gabriel Valley, approximately 20 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. The City is a regional center for retail, health care services, and corporate offices. The City is home to over 2,300 businesses. For more information, visit www.westcovina.org