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Donuts y Panaderķa in Old Town Newhall

By Jennae Phillipe
Signal Staff Writer

Tuesday, July 24, 2001

W
hen Jazmin's Bakery & Donuts (Panadería y Pastelería) opened on July 4, nearly 1,000 people visited it, said owner Juan Bernaby.
    The crowd was attracted by the Independence Day parade in downtown Newhall. "It was a big surprise," he said.
    So is the bakery.
Jazmin's
Juan Bernaby puts a dollop of whipped cream atop one of his creations at Jazmin's Bakery in Old Town Newhall.
    The bakery specializes in a great assortment of baked goods, from Mexican sweet breads to French pastries.
    So far, Bernaby said the store has received a warm reception from customers.
    "They're surprised for this area to have a bakery like this. They like it and come back.
    "We always try to keep the customers happy," he said. "We offer them different items from different countries."
    Jazmin's Bakery takes special orders, makes wedding and birthday cakes, and sells donuts, select breads, pastries, and french deserts. It will have pies in season, and will be serving tamales and deli sandwiches in the future.
    "We try to get everything," Bernaby said. "Customers say what they need, whatever is tradition. We try and work with the customers so they can choose from a variety of things."
    Larry Bird, chairman of the city's Newhall Redevelopment Committee, had high praises for the bakery.
    "We were looking for a donut shop for Newhall and we got an excellent donut shop that also serves panadería," he said. "It's a nice, clean, beautiful establishment, competitively priced."
    The bakery is named after Bernaby's daughter, Jazmin, who died in 1997.
    "People always ask me who Jazmin is," Bernaby said. "Jazmin's an angel who was here. She is still here for us."
     All baked items are made right inside the store, and Bernaby invites customers to come and see how they are made. The decorating table is surrounded by glass windows so that customers can watch cakes being decorated, and give their feedback.
    "We take ideas from everybody," Bernaby said.
    The bakery is family-owned and -run. Bernaby's daughters Jessica and Maricela and his wife Martha all work at the bakery, and friends and other family members help out where they can.
    "I've been supported by friends," Bernaby said. "They always told me to open my own bakery. They always believed in me and in this business."
    Bernaby said he is trying to offer something unique to the community.
    "The main idea is to have a store in Newhall completely different than all the other stores," he said.

    Jazmin's Bakery is located at 24330 San Fernando Road in Newhall, next to Newhall Hardware, and is open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.


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