Passini Bakery, 1405 Georgia Street, circa 1933. The bakery produced Golden Maid Bread and wholesale baked products. The business was at this same location until 1971. On the left is Charles “Moonie” Passini. Standing next to the car is Alfonso “Sunshine” Passini, Charles’s brother and partner. Upstairs were apartments.
Courtesy Arlene Passini
Vallejo's Passini Bakery: Old Family Business, New Family
The Passini Bakery was opened in 1925 in Vallejo by Charles "Moonie" and Alfonso "Sunshine" Passini. A staple of the community for over fifty years, The Passini brothers and their family made and delivered French bread based on a secret family recipe. The business was owned and operated by the Passini family until 1974, when Alfonso chose to retire.
From the Sciambra-Passini French Bakery website, "In 1974 when the Passini family decided to close the business, Carl Sciambra, an Italian immigrant, who was employed by the Passini Bakery, decided he would rather buy the business than go looking for a new job. Thus a new era of business began."
Bruno Lenzi, left, and Charles Passini, right, behind a Passini Bakery delivery truck with products for local stores, 1405 Georgia Street, circa 1933.
Courtesy Arlene Passini
Carl Sciambra and his wife Barbara took over the business and added their name, but kept the traditions of quality service and family values started by the Passinis. The Sciambras' son Michael learned to bake from his father when he was fourteen, and runs the business to this day with help from sister Patty on the office side of things.
See more photos of Vallejo's history in the Times-Herald's new book, Vallejo Memories.
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