A deli failed in the same location. Ana De Los Angeles hopes that with the support of the community her new pastry shop will succeed.
Her Manjares Pastry Shop opened last month near the corner of West Rock and Whalley Avenues in Westville. The little cafe serves homemade cakes and pastries and fancy coffee drinks. The shop represents the fulfillment of a 20-year old dream for De Los Angeles — and the inspiration of an actual dream in which her late father appeared.
Taking a break from working in the kitchen on Wednesday morning, De Los Angeles sat at one of the wrought-iron tables in her shop to recount the history of her business. A shelf of books in the corner and couch against the wall gave the space a homey feel.
De Los Angeles, who’s originally from the Dominican Republic, worked for 20 years in New York City as a pastry chef. Five years ago, she moved to New Haven with her husband, Miguel, a painter (who asked that his last name not be mentioned). The couple settled in Westville, where they live in ARLOW, the artists’ housing project started by Westville developer Thea Buxbaum.
For two years, De Los Angeles worked at Lulu’s coffee shop in East Rock making pastries. She always dreamed of opening her own business. She received the name for her business in an actual dream.
One night, De Los Angeles said, her deceased father appeared to her in a dream. “Call your business ‘Manjares’,” he told her. The word means means “food of the gods” in Spanish.
“Food of the gods” on offer at Manjares Pastry Shop include De Los Angeles’ flan and flan cake, croissants baked daily, and a Dominican pineapple cake. De Los Angeles also makes cakes to order and sandwiches.
As she was describing her baked treats on Wednesday, a woman with several toddlers in tow burst into the store. Three little boys immediately pressed their faces against the dessert case. “Yummy! Yummy” they shouted.
After the children departed, De Los Angeles acknowledged that it’s a difficult time to be starting a business. A deli in the same location folded after less than a year in business.
“I’m really afraid with the economy,” De Los Angeles said. “But I believe in myself.”
“I think people are going to be supportive,” she said.
As Westville residents, De Los Angeles and her husband have already found assistance from their neighbors. They got designing and architectural help from local connections. The ornate empty frames that adorn the walls are on loan from Lyric Hall Antiques, across the street on Whalley Avenue.
John Cavalier, owner of Lyric Hall Antiques, stopped by later for a coffee. “I’m thrilled” about the new shop, Cavalier said. “Ana and Miguel have talked about this for a year. Everyone prevailed upon them, ‘Do it please! We’ll help you!’”
For now, the Lyric Hall picture frames hang empty on the wall. “That’s to build up the expectation,” Miguel said. He said he hopes to enlist some of the ARLOW artists to hang artwork in the shop.
The couple also plans on having live local music and a game night.
For now, the shop is a family affair. De Los Angeles’s son Anthony Gullon (pictured pouring a latte) moved up from New York City two months ago to help his mother open the shop. Gullon and Miguel are working full-time alongside De Los Angeles. Gullon hopes to become a New Haven police officer once his mother’s business is stable.