(Article by Arnold Adler of WAVE Publications) Hispanic ethnicity was foremost as members of the Porto family and city officials opened Porto’s Cuban Bakery and Cafe with a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday at 8233 Firestone Blvd.

City Councilman Mario Guerra, who was instrumental in bringing the popular Glendale facility to Downey, noted that he too was Cuban-American as he welcomed the new business.

The ceremony marked the opening of the two-story, 17,715-square-foot bakery and cafe next to an existing five-story office building which was remodeled as part of a $20 million project.

Ground breaking took place last Nov. 23. The project included demolition of a vacant two-story commercial building for the cafe and bakery and a 172-space parking structure to the rear off Second Street.

The new building has about 12,700 square feet on the first floor, of which about 9,600 are for bakery operations and 3,100 square feet are for the cafe. It includes two indoor dining areas totaling 2,000 square feet and two outside patios totaling about 1,120 square feet.

The 5,000 square feet on the second floor are for office use, a conference room, an employee lounge and restrooms and a storage area.

Operating hours are 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.. Monday through Saturday and 7 am. to 4 p.m. Sundays,

Raul and Rosa Porto established the bakery in Glendale some 35 years ago. A second bakery-restaurant was later opened in Burbank. They have been joined in the operation of the business by son Raul Jr. and daughters Betty Porto and Margarite Porto Navarro.

Besides the family members and Guerra, guests lending an Hispanic flavor to the ceremony were Assistant Downey City Manager Gil Livas, who was master of ceremonies; Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Los Angeles; and Assemblyman Hector De La Torre, D-South Gate.

Also making brief comments were Cuban actors Andy García and Tony Plana.

“I’m a white guy but it’s all right, I married a Cuban woman,” joked Councilman Roger Brossmer, in welcoming comments.

Guerra noted that he and former Councilman Kirk Cartozian met Raul Jr., as they ate lunch in Glendale several years ago at a meeting of the Orange Line commuter train group.

“I mentioned we were looking for a third site and they both jumped up and handed me their cards,” Raul Jr. recalled.

“We have been welcomed here since day one,” he added. “It’s great to be part of your community. It’s great to be wanted.

“Today begins a new direction for Downey,” said Guerra, noting that the new bakery is at the heart of downtown Downey. “We expect many jobs will come into our city [from projects like this].”

He added that another downtown project, Downey Gateway, a 1.5 acre retail and restaurant development is under way across the street at the southeast corner of Downey Avenue and Firestone.

“If we were in a shopping center, Porto’s would be our anchor,” Councilman Dave Gafin said.

“We have been blessed with Porto’s coming to Downey,” Mayor Anne Bayer said.

“Now I won’t have to go into [Rep.] Adam Schiff’s district [in Glendale] to buy my pastries. I can come to a location in my 34th District,” Roybal-Allard said.

‘We actually did this for the people of Downey. Now they won’t have to drive all the way to Glendale,” Betty Porto added.