Hernandez Family Built Detroit Bakery Legacy

The family-owned Mexicantown Bakery has served the Detroit community since it first opened its doors in 1995.

Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Mexican Food

Hernandez Family Built Detroit Bakery Legacy

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After immigrating to Detroit from Cuba in 1966, the Hernandez family established deep roots in the city's food scene. Omar Hernandez opened the Mexicantown Bakery in 1995, building on the family's earlier experience running Armando's Mexican Restaurant.

Why it matters

The family businesses have endured for decades by successfully adapting to changing market forces and economic conditions in southwest Detroit. Their growth illustrates the long-term impact of immigrant-owned enterprises on the local culinary landscape.

Mexicantown Bakery has operated for 31 years in southwest Detroit. Over 50% of the bakery's weekend customers travel from half an hour to an hour away to visit.

The players

Omar Hernandez

He is the founder who opened the Mexicantown Bakery in 1995.

Mexicantown Bakery

This is a long-standing family business located in southwest Detroit.

Armando's Mexican Restaurant

This is a local dining establishment that the Hernandez family acquired in the 1980s.

The details

The family originally worked at a meat-packing plant after settling in Detroit before gaining ownership of Armando's Mexican Restaurant in the 1980s. To broaden their reach, the bakery incorporated traditions from Central and Latin American communities and utilized social media to draw customers from Ohio and Canada.

The Hernandez family immigrated from Cuba to Detroit in 1966.
The family gained ownership of Armando's Mexican Restaurant in the 1980s.
Omar Hernandez opened the Mexicantown Bakery in 1995.

Culture Shift

The success of these family-owned businesses mirrors the broader historical integration of immigrant-owned small businesses into Detroit's culinary economy. This trend highlights how multi-generational family enterprises have adapted to regional shifts while maintaining cultural traditions.

The bakery serves as a major destination for visitors from across Michigan, Ohio, and Canada who seek traditional Central and Latin American baked goods. Local residents benefit from the continued operation of this neighborhood staple which draws regional foot traffic to southwest Detroit.

The takeaway

Maintaining a successful long-term business often requires a balance between preserving cultural heritage and leveraging modern tools like social media to reach a wider audience. Customers can support similar local institutions by seeking out long-standing family-run shops in their own communities.