BaduFerreira: Fixed typo
{{Short description|Mexican bakery in San Francisco, United States}}
{{Infobox restaurant|name=La Mejor Bakery|image=La Mejor Bakery.jpg|image_caption=Bakery storefront in Spring 2024|mapframe=yes|pushpin_map=<!-- Requires {{para|coordinates}} -->|established={{Start date|1993|}}|current-owner=Carmen Elias|food-type=[[Pan dulce]] and other [[Mexican cuisine]]|street-address=3329 24th Street|city=San Francisco|state=California|zip=98036|country=United States|coordinates={{coord|37.7521|-122.4194|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}}}'''La Mejor Bakery''' ([[Spanish language|''Spanish'']]: The Best) is a Mexican bakery located in the [[Mission District, San Francisco|Mission District]] of [[San Francisco]], [[California]] in the [[United States]]. The bakery was recognized as a [[San Francisco legacy business]] in 2024 after 30 years of continuous operation at its sole location at 3329 24th Street.
== Description ==
The bakery sells varied {{Lang|es|[[pan dulce]]}} pastries, Mexican and Central American alike, and other foods such as [[Empanada|empanadas]] and [[Tamale|tamales]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2023-06-28 |title=San Francisco's La Mejor Bakery Becomes Legacy Business |url=https://sfstandard.com/2023/06/28/t...d-the-missions-latino-community-for-30-years/ |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=The San Francisco Standard |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> They also sell specific pastries during holiday seasons, such as {{Lang|es|[[rosca de reyes]]}} around [[Three Kings' Day]] and {{Lang|es|[[pan de muerto]]}} around the [[Day of the Dead]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hutson |first=Sonja |date=2018-01-07 |title=Bakeries Celebrate Three Kings Day in San Francisco's Mission District {{!}} KQED |url=https://www.kqed.org/news/11640574/...-kings-day-in-san-franciscos-mission-district |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=www.kqed.org |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Pershan |first=Caleb |date=2019-05-31 |title=Historic Panaderias Hold On for Dear Life in the Mission District |url=https://sf.eater.com/2019/5/31/1864...ctoria-dominguez-panaderia-reopen-open-closed |access-date=2024-04-21 |website=Eater SF |language=en}}</ref> The {{Lang|es|pan de muerto}} made at La Mejor Bakery is provided to various elementary schools around the city to teach students about Mexican cuisine and culture.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Rodriguez |first=Steph |title=This SF bakery bakes thousands of this sweet treat only once a year |url=https://www.sfgate.com/food/article/sf-bakery-pan-de-muerto-17547487.php |access-date=2024-04-20 |work=SFGATE |language=en}}</ref>
The bakery also serves as a community space for [[Latin Americans]] in the Mission who may be alone in the United States and seek connection to the culture that they left behind.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=El Tecolote |date=2016-06-02 |title=La Mejor: more than just another Mexican bakery |url=https://eltecolote.org/content/en/la-mejor-more-than-just-another-mexican-bakery/ |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=El Tecolote |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2" />
The bakery provides Mexican {{Lang|es|pan dulce}} and other foods to events centered around 24th street.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
The window art on the bakery's storefront is hand painted monthly by a local artist to reflect seasonal celebrations.<ref name=":6" />
== History ==
La Mejor Bakery was opened by Carmen Elias in 1993 after her early retirement from working as a banker at [[Bank of America]]. Despite not having previous experience as a baker, Carmen grew up around bakeries as her father worked on the side as a sought-after baker in the Mission District.<ref name=":0" /> Carmen spent all of her retirement money on purchasing the failing bakery that would become La Mejor Bakery{{Efn|The bakery is named after either the bakery of Carmen Elias' family friend<ref name=":0" /> or a bakery that her father and his friends would frequent in [[Tijuana]].<ref name=":1" />}} at the suggestion of one of her father's old co-workers who was also a family friend.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Kauffman |first=By Jonathan |title=La Mejor Bakery in the Mission matters now more than ever |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/ar...-in-the-Mission-matters-now-more-13127865.php |access-date=2024-04-20 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en}}</ref> The family friend provided her with mentorship on how to run a bakery and "*****" her dad's old coworkers to bake for her on their days off.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Gil |first=Christopher |title=La Mejor is Simply a Better Bakery in the Mission |url=https://missionstreetsf.com/la-mejor-is-simply-a-better-bakery-in-the-mission/ |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=San Francisco’s Mission District |language=en-US}}</ref>
The bakery wasn't profitable in its first two years as it was located in a bad neighborhood and didn't have a full-time staff.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Hellerstein |first=Erica |date=2014-02-03 |title=The Mission Panaderia in the Time of Tech |url=http://missionlocal.org/2014/02/the-state-of-the-mission-panaderia/ |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=Mission Local |language=en-US}}</ref> In order to attract more customers, Carmen would give away free cookies and open the bakery earlier, close in the middle of the day to rest, and stay open later than other nearby bakeries. As business and the neighborhood was improving, Carmen hired a young baker who recently immigrated from Mexico and he worked as her only full-time for 20 years before moving to nearby [[San Bruno, California|San Bruno]] to open his own bakery.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" />
As of November 2022, all of the {{Lang|es|pan dulce}} made at La Mejor Bakery is prepared by three employees.<ref name=":5" />
=== Recognition ===
The bakery was recognized by San Francisco mayor [[Ed Lee]] as a Latino Heritage Business.<ref name=":0" />
In 2015, The La Mejor Bakery was featured in San Francisco's entry in [[The New York Times]]’ “36 Hours In” series. This popular series recommends eating establishments at cities around the world.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tsui |first=Bonnie |date=2015-10-28 |title=36 Hours in San Francisco |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/01/travel/what-to-do-in-36-hours-in-san-francisco.html |access-date=2024-04-20 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tuder |first=Stefanie |date=2015-10-30 |title=Here's Where The New York Times Thinks You Should Eat In SF |url=https://sf.eater.com/2015/10/30/9645646/new-york-times-36-hours-in-san-francisco |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=Eater SF |language=en}}</ref>
On February 27, 2023, the bakery was recognized by the city of San Francisco as a San Francisco legacy business for its cultural importance.<ref name=":2" /> This program allows businesses to participate in official city publicity campaigns and receive grants designed to help small businesses.<ref name=":1" />
== See also ==
* [[List of bakeries]]
== External links ==
* [https://www.sf.gov/sites/default/files/2023-02/Item 2a. LBR-2022-23-028 La Mejor Bakery.pdf La Mejor Bakery's application for San Francisco's Legacy Business Program]
* [https://legacybusiness.org/registry San Francisco's Legacy Business Program registry]
== Notes ==
<references group="lower-alpha" responsive="1"></references>
== References ==
<references responsive="1"></references>
[[Category:Bakeries of California]]
[[Category:Mission District, San Francisco]]
[[Category:1993 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Food and drink companies established in 1993]]
[[Category:Mexican pastries]]
[[Category:Latin American pastries]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American culture in California]]
Okumaya devam et...
{{Short description|Mexican bakery in San Francisco, United States}}
{{Infobox restaurant|name=La Mejor Bakery|image=La Mejor Bakery.jpg|image_caption=Bakery storefront in Spring 2024|mapframe=yes|pushpin_map=<!-- Requires {{para|coordinates}} -->|established={{Start date|1993|}}|current-owner=Carmen Elias|food-type=[[Pan dulce]] and other [[Mexican cuisine]]|street-address=3329 24th Street|city=San Francisco|state=California|zip=98036|country=United States|coordinates={{coord|37.7521|-122.4194|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}}}'''La Mejor Bakery''' ([[Spanish language|''Spanish'']]: The Best) is a Mexican bakery located in the [[Mission District, San Francisco|Mission District]] of [[San Francisco]], [[California]] in the [[United States]]. The bakery was recognized as a [[San Francisco legacy business]] in 2024 after 30 years of continuous operation at its sole location at 3329 24th Street.
== Description ==
The bakery sells varied {{Lang|es|[[pan dulce]]}} pastries, Mexican and Central American alike, and other foods such as [[Empanada|empanadas]] and [[Tamale|tamales]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2023-06-28 |title=San Francisco's La Mejor Bakery Becomes Legacy Business |url=https://sfstandard.com/2023/06/28/t...d-the-missions-latino-community-for-30-years/ |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=The San Francisco Standard |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> They also sell specific pastries during holiday seasons, such as {{Lang|es|[[rosca de reyes]]}} around [[Three Kings' Day]] and {{Lang|es|[[pan de muerto]]}} around the [[Day of the Dead]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hutson |first=Sonja |date=2018-01-07 |title=Bakeries Celebrate Three Kings Day in San Francisco's Mission District {{!}} KQED |url=https://www.kqed.org/news/11640574/...-kings-day-in-san-franciscos-mission-district |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=www.kqed.org |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Pershan |first=Caleb |date=2019-05-31 |title=Historic Panaderias Hold On for Dear Life in the Mission District |url=https://sf.eater.com/2019/5/31/1864...ctoria-dominguez-panaderia-reopen-open-closed |access-date=2024-04-21 |website=Eater SF |language=en}}</ref> The {{Lang|es|pan de muerto}} made at La Mejor Bakery is provided to various elementary schools around the city to teach students about Mexican cuisine and culture.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Rodriguez |first=Steph |title=This SF bakery bakes thousands of this sweet treat only once a year |url=https://www.sfgate.com/food/article/sf-bakery-pan-de-muerto-17547487.php |access-date=2024-04-20 |work=SFGATE |language=en}}</ref>
The bakery also serves as a community space for [[Latin Americans]] in the Mission who may be alone in the United States and seek connection to the culture that they left behind.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=El Tecolote |date=2016-06-02 |title=La Mejor: more than just another Mexican bakery |url=https://eltecolote.org/content/en/la-mejor-more-than-just-another-mexican-bakery/ |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=El Tecolote |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2" />
The bakery provides Mexican {{Lang|es|pan dulce}} and other foods to events centered around 24th street.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
The window art on the bakery's storefront is hand painted monthly by a local artist to reflect seasonal celebrations.<ref name=":6" />
== History ==
La Mejor Bakery was opened by Carmen Elias in 1993 after her early retirement from working as a banker at [[Bank of America]]. Despite not having previous experience as a baker, Carmen grew up around bakeries as her father worked on the side as a sought-after baker in the Mission District.<ref name=":0" /> Carmen spent all of her retirement money on purchasing the failing bakery that would become La Mejor Bakery{{Efn|The bakery is named after either the bakery of Carmen Elias' family friend<ref name=":0" /> or a bakery that her father and his friends would frequent in [[Tijuana]].<ref name=":1" />}} at the suggestion of one of her father's old co-workers who was also a family friend.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Kauffman |first=By Jonathan |title=La Mejor Bakery in the Mission matters now more than ever |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/ar...-in-the-Mission-matters-now-more-13127865.php |access-date=2024-04-20 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en}}</ref> The family friend provided her with mentorship on how to run a bakery and "*****" her dad's old coworkers to bake for her on their days off.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Gil |first=Christopher |title=La Mejor is Simply a Better Bakery in the Mission |url=https://missionstreetsf.com/la-mejor-is-simply-a-better-bakery-in-the-mission/ |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=San Francisco’s Mission District |language=en-US}}</ref>
The bakery wasn't profitable in its first two years as it was located in a bad neighborhood and didn't have a full-time staff.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Hellerstein |first=Erica |date=2014-02-03 |title=The Mission Panaderia in the Time of Tech |url=http://missionlocal.org/2014/02/the-state-of-the-mission-panaderia/ |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=Mission Local |language=en-US}}</ref> In order to attract more customers, Carmen would give away free cookies and open the bakery earlier, close in the middle of the day to rest, and stay open later than other nearby bakeries. As business and the neighborhood was improving, Carmen hired a young baker who recently immigrated from Mexico and he worked as her only full-time for 20 years before moving to nearby [[San Bruno, California|San Bruno]] to open his own bakery.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" />
As of November 2022, all of the {{Lang|es|pan dulce}} made at La Mejor Bakery is prepared by three employees.<ref name=":5" />
=== Recognition ===
The bakery was recognized by San Francisco mayor [[Ed Lee]] as a Latino Heritage Business.<ref name=":0" />
In 2015, The La Mejor Bakery was featured in San Francisco's entry in [[The New York Times]]’ “36 Hours In” series. This popular series recommends eating establishments at cities around the world.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tsui |first=Bonnie |date=2015-10-28 |title=36 Hours in San Francisco |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/01/travel/what-to-do-in-36-hours-in-san-francisco.html |access-date=2024-04-20 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tuder |first=Stefanie |date=2015-10-30 |title=Here's Where The New York Times Thinks You Should Eat In SF |url=https://sf.eater.com/2015/10/30/9645646/new-york-times-36-hours-in-san-francisco |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=Eater SF |language=en}}</ref>
On February 27, 2023, the bakery was recognized by the city of San Francisco as a San Francisco legacy business for its cultural importance.<ref name=":2" /> This program allows businesses to participate in official city publicity campaigns and receive grants designed to help small businesses.<ref name=":1" />
== See also ==
* [[List of bakeries]]
== External links ==
* [https://www.sf.gov/sites/default/files/2023-02/Item 2a. LBR-2022-23-028 La Mejor Bakery.pdf La Mejor Bakery's application for San Francisco's Legacy Business Program]
* [https://legacybusiness.org/registry San Francisco's Legacy Business Program registry]
== Notes ==
<references group="lower-alpha" responsive="1"></references>
== References ==
<references responsive="1"></references>
[[Category:Bakeries of California]]
[[Category:Mission District, San Francisco]]
[[Category:1993 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Food and drink companies established in 1993]]
[[Category:Mexican pastries]]
[[Category:Latin American pastries]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American culture in California]]
Okumaya devam et...