National Register of Historic Places in Santa Clara County

National Register #82002267: Roma Bakery in San Jose 2 October 2011
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National Register #82002267
Roma Bakery
655 Almaden Avenue
San Jose
Built 1911

The building was constructed in 1911 by Vittorio Pera, an accomplished builder who learned his trade in Italy. Vittorio built the bakery for his cousin Rizieri Pera who operated both a bakery and grocery store here until the late 1940's. (He shut down the business during World War II but reopened the bakery with the help of two sons soon after the war.)

When nominated for the national Register in 1982, the bakery was managed by a grandson of the founder and was one of the last family run bakeries in the San Jose area.

Roma Bakery is important for its architectural style which combines Colonial Revival and Queen Anne elements. The turret, with its shingled roof, was topped by a flag pole in earlier years. Originally, the turret was immediately above a diagonal opening supported by three decorative wood columns. This entrance and two large plate glass windows which flanked it have been closed off with wood siding.

Adapted from the NRHP nomination form submitted in the year 1982.

When we photographed Roma Bakery in 2011, it was still in business and receiving five-star reviews on Yelp for its bread.

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