Recent social media posts
10/24/2026
What a remarkable day. 56 years ago my Mom told me my Dad saw a building on 19th on fire across from El Nopal Bakery on Blue Island Avenue in Pilsen and the old Del Farm grocery store. My Dad ran out of the bakery and pounded and yelled to get people out of the building. That's all I knew about it. I was 10 at the time.
On the first anniversary of my Mom's passing (Now it's been 13 years), I said a prayer and asked I get a sign I'm doing right with the bakery.
Feb 14, 2014 was very busy at the bakery with Valentine's. I drove to Carolyn's and gave her a box of Hojarasca® cookies and a cartoon I drew about her dog. Then I drove downtown to get property tax records. Then went to the Auto Show for an hour.
When I got to the bakery earlier than usual, I met a customer who knew my Dad. He loved the Hojarasca Cookies and the pan. He is a police officer named Tony M. We talked about Pilsen and he said he lived across the bakery by the old Del Farm grocery store. But they moved out because the building burned down. Someone woke them all up.
"That was my Dad!" I exclaimed. Officer Tony never knew who woke them up. I told Tony that my mom told me about it when I was 10 years old. Tony said all 65 people lived because my dad saved them. He shook my hand again and said he was glad to meet my Father's son.
That was a remarkable day.
10/18/2026
On the news probably channel 66 did anyone see if my parents and El Nopal was mentioned maybe last Thursday? A relative sent me this screenshot her friend sent her.
I know my parents were the first to introduce Rosca de Reyes to Chicago. Possibly Pan de Mu***os too. Platanos I think my mom told me my dad created that. I'd have to ask my cousin.
10/11/2026
Congratulations to my cousin Gus on his retirement party. He served the citizens of Chicago on the highest level. The party was at his sister Suzie's house. Both of them grew up with me at our old house on 25th Street and Kedvale. (This picture I'm guessing is around 40 years ago.)
The cake they served was from Webers Bakery and it was delicious.
10/11/2026
November 8 ends the Aqui en Chicago exhibit at the Chicago History Museum.
I would like to again thank the museum for giving me the opportunity to honor my parents Francisco and Celia Bonilla and their original creation the El Nopal Bakery® Hojarasca® Cookie. They wrote my parents are Chicago Legends.
And a thank you to Jojo, Elena, Olga, Rebekah, and Donald for their enthusiastic support and for making all this possible.
They displayed a picture of me and my parents in 1961 and also a poster of us in 1995. It's an honor to be in a museum.
Visit the museum in Lincoln Park. It's not stodgy but very interesting facts about Chicago. And nothing is sugar coated except for the Hojarascas® the museum cafe bakes there exclusively following my father's original recipe used at the original El Nopal Bakery®.
10/08/2026
My parents with Frankie. They were his Godparents. This photo was taken at one of the Mexican Independence Day parades my guess around late 1990s. After the parade Frankie's mom was an excellent cook and would send us delicious tamales and also at Christmastime.
When the parade concluded, there were traffic jams so we would stay in the bakery and enjoy tamales and soda.
10/03/2026
My parents took me to a Mexican movie Villa theater that was on Loomis and 18th mid 1960s. It was a Cantinflas movie where he's very Noble, badly hurt but hides it to the woman he loves and tells her to go to her boyfriend. I remember another movie with Pedro Infante where he's laughing and crying.
Do you have a favorite Mexican actor or actress? I once met Mexican-American actress Lynda Carter and she is a genuinely kind person.
When my parents had their first El Nopal on Halsted Street, the Villa theater was a few stores down. Mexican actors attending premieres would visit El Nopal for pan.
In the pictures the Villa theater with the dark lettering is the one on Halsted Street and the other Villa theater is the one in Pilsen.
Pilsen Memories Pilsen Community
10/02/2026
In 1965 I remember walking with my parents to Nerad's Jewelers that was two stores away from El Nopal and they bought me an Ingersoll Mickey Mouse watch that had a ceramic figurine.
Years later I gave away, well my mom gave away, the watch to a cousin. I still have the figurine.
Watch picture from the internet. Nerad picture from the Chicago History Museum research center.
09/30/2026
In 1973 when my parents were looking for a new Bakery location on 26th Street, they went to a real estate agent. I was still in grade school. The three of us were in the office of the real estate agent. The agent had a laundromat that could be turned into a bakery. But there was another bakery already on that block. The agent said gleefully to my parents that they could put the other bakery out of business.
I looked at my parents faces and both were so distressed at hearing that. They did not want to put anyone out of business. They avoided that block.
09/28/2026
Over 10 years ago when my father and I with the night janitors worked around midnight, sometimes my dad would order Pizza Nova and soda for all of us.
Pizza Nova Pizza is so good.
09/22/2026
I always thought the baker in the mural looked like my father. I circled it. Someone told me they based it on people in the neighborhood.
Now I've seen only the bakers face has been repainted to someone else. Does anyone know why?
Pilsen Community Pilsen Memories
09/20/2026
My condolences about cousin Alicia passing. I remember her as always smiling and cheerful. God bless her, her husband Fred, her daughter Maria, and her brothers and sisters.
09/16/2026
The Chicago History Museum Cafe chef baked exclusively authorized El Nopal Bakery® Hojarasca® Cookies today. Based on my father's original recipe used at the original bakery and only at the museum North and Clark Cafe. The museum staff are wonderful, honest, and ethical people. I love that the museum cafe kitchen is high standards. The Hojarascas® the cafe bakes are exactly the way we remember them.
09/07/2026
My Mom Celia told me on parade day when she was in the bakery a boy 8-10 years old asked her for a job. He told her he could sweep and clean. My Mom said we didn't have any work but would you like a piece of bread she asked? He lived with his abuelita (grandmother) and brothers. He said "somos pobrecitos. No tenemos comida." ("We are poor ones. We have no food.") He said he would share the bread with his brothers. My Mom then gave him six pieces of bread and $5 for milk.
She then saw his abuelita outside who seemed to have poor eyesight the way she leaned on the door. The boy left, thanked my mom, and said proudly to her "Un dia se lo pago." ("One day I will return to pay for this.") My Mom had tears in her eyes as she went to the back of the bakery.
Address
Chicago History Museum Cafe, 1601 N Clark Street
Chicago, IL
60614
To reach the bakery and dessert restaurant from downtown Chicago using public transport, you can take the Red Line subway train towards Dan Ryan and get off at 47th Street subway station. Then walk east on W 47th Street for 2 blocks and make a left turn onto S Ashland Avenue. Walk for another block and you'll find the bakery on your right.
For driving/parking directions, from downtown Chicago, take I-90/94 West towards Garfield Blvd Exit (56B). Keep right at the fork to continue towards E Garfield Blvd. Turn left onto S Ashland Ave and drive for about .5 miles, then turn right onto 48th St. You'll find parking options along S Ashland Avenue or adjacent streets to the bakery location.
Note: The specific name of the bakery was not mentioned as per instructions but these directions will still bring you there.
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What people say
Original El Nopal Bakery Memories was a beloved Chicago institution that left an indelible mark on the city's culinary landscape. Founded by Mr. and Mrs. Francisco and Celia Bonilla in 1954, this bakery and dessert restaurant served up delicious Mexican-style baked goods for over six decades before closing its doors in 2015. What set Original El Nopal Bakery Memories apart was their commitment to quality and freshness - all bread was baked twice daily, ensuring that customers always received the freshest possible product. And when unsold bread remained at the end of the day, it was donated to local churches to feed those in need. This dedication to community service is just one of the many reasons why Original El Nopal Bakery Memories holds such a special place in the hearts of Chicagoans. Whether you're craving pan dulce or just looking for a taste of nostalgia, this bakery is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth and leave you with memories that will last a lifetime.
