La Segunda Central Bakery is a purveyor of Cuban bread, pastries, and other baked goods in the historic neighborhood of Ybor City in Tampa, Florida. It was founded in 1915 as part of a co-op of three bakeries in the Ybor City area: La Primera, La Segunda and La Tercera (literally the First, the Second, and the Third). The other two establishments closed during the Great Depression, leaving the slightly renamed La Segunda Central as the primary supplier of Cuban bread to the local community. The bakery was founded and operated by Juan Moré, an immigrant from northern Spain who is generally credited with developing modern Cuban bread by adapting a recipe he'd learned in Cuba while serving in the Spanish-American War.[1] The Moré family has continued to own and operate the business for four generations.[2]
| La Segunda Central Bakery | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1915 |
| Street address | 2512 N 15th Street, Ybor City |
| City | Tampa |
| State | Florida |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 27°57′57″N 82°26′36″W / 27.9658°N 82.4434°W |
| Other locations | South Tampa, Seminole Heights, St. Petersburg |
| Website | www |
La Segunda Central is the highest volume producer of Cuban bread in the world and still uses hand labor for much of the process, as the third generation owner was not satisfied with the quality of his signature product during a brief foray into mechanization.[1] It bakes and delivers thousands of loaves daily to stores and restaurants around the city and state, including hundreds to the historic Columbia Restaurant, which is located a few blocks away.[2] The business operates as a wholesale and retail bakery as well as a deli, offering a wide assortment of specialties including medianoche bread, scacciata, meat pies, sausage rolls, guava turnovers, flan, Italian cookie, sandwiches, cakes, and more.[3]
The original bakery is located just north of the officially designated Ybor City Historic District. In 2018, La Segunda opened a cafe-style location on Kennedy Boulevard in South Tampa which offers prepared food such as Cuban sandwiches and café con leche in addition to baked goods and includes a seating area for diners.[4] Similar La Segunda cafes opened in Tampa's Seminole Heights neighborhood and downtown St. Petersburg in 2022.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Travis, Helen Anne (November 2, 2015). "Business still booms at Cuban bread's birthplace: 100-year-old Florida bakery". The Guardian. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
- ^ a b Carlton, Sue (20 February 2015). "100 years of Cuban bread at Ybor City's La Segunda Central Bakery". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
- ^ Clear, Marty (28 November 2003). "For 65 years, he brought Cuban bread all over town". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on 4 December 2003.
- ^ a b Freund, Helen (March 10, 2022). "5 things to know about the new La Segunda in St. Petersburg". Tampa Bay Times.
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