Obituary: Cuban Bakery Porto’s Co-Founder Raul Porto Sr. Has Died at Age 92 | Eater LA
"Founded in 1976 by Raul and Rosa Porto in an Echo Park strip mall and relocated to Glendale in 1982, this family-run Cuban bakery grew from Rosa selling cakes from home to an iconic Southern California institution known for affordable Cuban pastries. I note the bakery’s signature refugiados (guava and cheese strudels), potato balls, cakes, and long lines for tres leches cakes, Cuban sandwiches, pastries, and salads. Raul Sr., who helped the business grow after initially working elsewhere and even as a janitor while supporting Porto’s on the side, retired to focus on raising his grandchildren and great-grandchildren; he died on May 22, 2024 at age 92 and was remembered as humble and devoted. The Portos’ three children—Beatriz, Raul Jr., and Margarita—took on leadership roles, expanded to Burbank in 2006 and later to Buena Park, Downey, Northridge, West Covina and other Southern California locations, launched nationwide delivery of Porto’s par-baked goods in 2018, and plan a Downtown Disney location later this year." - Matthew Kang
