Roma Bakery

{{Short description|Historic bakery in Santa Clara County, California, United States}}

{{Infobox NRHP

| name = Roma Bakery

| designated_other1_name =

| nrhp_type = nrhp

| nocat = yes

| image = USA-San Jose-Roma Bakery-1.jpg

| caption = San Jose Roma Bakery

| image_size = 300px

| location = 655 Almaden Avenue, San Jose, California, US

| coordinates = {{coord|37|20|33|N|121|53|07|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}

| locmapin = United States San Jose

| map_caption = Location in Santa Clara County

| map_label = Roma Bakery

| built = {{Start date|1911}}

| builder =

| architecture = Colonial Revival and Queen Anne

| architect = Vittorio Pera

| added = January 21, 1982{{cite web|url=https://ohp.parks.ca.gov/ListedResources/Detail/N1006 |title=Roma Bakery |publisher=Office of Historic Preservation|access-date=November 5, 2023}}

| area =

| refnum = 82002267{{NRISref|2013a|dateform=mdy|access-date=2023-10-18|refnum=82002267|name=Roma Bakery}}

| website =

}}

The Roma Bakery is a bakery located in San Jose, California built by Vittorio Pera in 1911. The building's architectural style is a blend of Colonial Revival and Queen Anne. The bakery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 21, 1982.

History

File:Roma Bakery, 655 Almaden Avenue.jpg

Pera, who arrived in the United States sometime after 1900 undertook the bakery project for his cousin, Rizieri Pera and his wife Rosa, who had initiated the bakery-grocery business back in 1907. The Pera family has continued to run the same business for three generations.{{cite journal|url=https://historysanjose.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/d7734-1995jan_sjhma_newsletter.pdf|title=Buisiness in History Roma Bakery|author=|journal=San Jose Historical Museum|volume=XV |issue=1|place=San Jose, California|date=January 1995|page=5|access-date=November 6, 2023}}{{cite book|last=Farrell|first=Harry|url=https://archive.org/details/sanjoseotherfamo00farr/page/1/mode/1up?q=%22Roma+Bakery%22|title=San Jose, and other famous places|publisher=San Jose Historical Museum Association|place=San Jose, California|date=1924|page=1|isbn=978-0-914139-00-3 |access-date=November 6, 2023}}

Mario Pera re-established his father's 1907 Roma Bakery in San Jose in 1952 and sold French and sourdough bread and rolls throughout the Bay Area.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-bakery-pera/134726692/|title=Mario Pera Bakery Owner|author=Examiner Staff Report|publisher=The San Francisco Examiner|place=San Francisco, California|date=September 1, 1989|page=26|access-date=November 6, 2023}} Steven Pera, was co-owner of Roma Bakery in Sept. 4, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/09/10/san-jose-is-picking-its-battles-when-it-comes-to-growing-encampments-and-illegal-dumping/|title=San Jose admits it can't keep up with mounting piles of trash, illegal dumping|author=MAGGIE ANGST |publisher=The Mercury News|place=San Jose, California|date=September 10, 2020|page=26|access-date=November 6, 2023}}

Design

The structure's most distinctive architectural feature is the second level turret that occupies the northeast corner of the building. This turret, characteristic of the Queen Anne Victorian-style popular in the 1890s, has a shingled, rounded roof and was once adorned with a flagpole. The entrance has been sealed with horizontal wood siding, and two plate glass windows that flanked the entrance have been partially covered, although the upper sections of these windows remain visible. The original trio of columns still stands within this sealed entrance.

Historical significance

Its architectural style is a blend of Colonial Revival and Queen Anne styles. The Roma Bakery was placed on the National Register on October 23, 1980.