The Glendale and Burbank locations collectively employ 180 people while serving about 2,000 customers per day with sales of more than $160 million, according to a city staff report.
“We’re very excited about it,” Downey Mayor Mario A. Guerra said. “Porto’s will be the economic engine downtown.”
The relationship between Porto’s and Downey started in November 2007, when Guerra, another Downey city councilman, and Glendale City Councilman Frank Quintero met at the Brand Boulevard bakery to discuss regional transportation issues.
Bakery co-owner Raul Porto recognized Quintero and was introduced to Guerra.
The mayor handed Porto a business card, asking him to consider opening a location in Downey, 21 miles southeast of Glendale.
Within a few weeks, Porto called Guerra, gave him a tour of downtown Downey and started the ball rolling on a multimillion-dollar investment.
“It started by chance,” Guerra said.
Months later, Porto and his business team, which includes sister and co-owner Betty Porto, hunted for a suitable location to precipitously expand their current footprint.
The Portos closed escrow in November on a $9.4-million facility that includes a two-story parking garage and 15,300-square-foot bakery/restaurant on 92,000 square feet of land.
Construction is set to begin by May, and the new location is scheduled to open by April 2010.
The project is part of Porto’s $16-million investment in downtown Downey, which officials there hope will lift the city to new heights as it explores other options to cull residents and visitors from other locations.
