La Colmena Panaderia has 120 years of history in San Miguel de Allende

Published February 11, 2021 (sp)

“La Colmena” survived the Second World War due to a shortage of raw materials, it is considered one of the 100 oldest businesses in the country.

With 120 years of history and considered one of the 100 oldest traditional businesses in the country. The municipal administration recognizes the work and effort of the oldest and most preserved bakery in San Miguel de Allende, “Panadería La Colmena”. This is one of the events scheduled in the framework of the 252nd anniversary of the birth of the First General of the Nation, Ignacio Allende y Unzaga.

“We have gone through difficult times, one of them was World War II, where we struggled to get the raw material,” said Don José Antonio Rayas, grandson of Florentino Rayas, a man who started in 1901, with the first bakery in San Miguel de Allende, located at Relox Street #19, downtown.

This Wednesday this transcendence of constant work and effort, was recognized by the municipal president Luis Alberto Villarreal, unveiling a plaque on the facade of “La Colmena”. “I thank you for allowing us to place this plaque so that every Sanmiguelense or visitor can feel the same honor and pride felt by those of us who passed through these blue doors. Congratulations and long live La Colmena Bakery,” said the mayor.

Don José Antonio, also shared that this traditional business began “accidentally because my grandfather built an oven and made bread, but only for himself and his family, then he began to take bread to some employees he had in Alcocer where they worked the land and also the neighbors began to ask him to sell them bread. I don’t know if the bread was good, but he has been selling bread for 120 years”.

As an anecdote, Don Toño recalled that on one occasion “La Colmena” was used as the set for a movie, which was produced by Americans. “According to a scene in the movie, they were going to have a banquet and they were going to give roasted chickens and they sent them here to bake them in the oven and the ovens were filled with chickens; they say that the juice of the chickens dripped out of the ovens because they were so full”. said the baker with laughter.

Every day “La Colmena Bakery” produces approximately 4 thousand pieces of bread, almost all of which are sold.

Finally, and without leaving aside the pandemic issue, José Antonio Rayas explained that keeping the business going has been and continues to be a challenge, which they hope to overcome. “There have been and still are some wobbles, as sales have dropped by up to 40% and we have fixed expenses that hang us, but we can proudly say that our number of workers has not dropped at any time”.

A traditional bakery that’s wall-to-wall biscuits and sweet things (whose recipes haven’t changed in years). Grab a tray, tongs and start piling.