Tropical Bakery

"For the first years, open to close, seven days a week, it was just him," Melendez said of her father. "The bakery is built on that, on that dedication." The bakery moved to its current location at Bingaman and South Ninth Streets in 2004. From 2001 to 2011, Tanya was working in Puerto Rico as a travel agent, specializing in personalized travel itineraries.

Melendez came back to Reading in 2012 when her father felt it was time to retire. Melendez applied her work experience - building a unique product in a tight time frame with a set budget - to her position as general manager. Though her father has taken a lesser role in the daily operations of the bakery, he still retains the ultimate say over important decisions.

The bakery is also a social club of sorts; people use it as a meeting point, a place to grab coffee and talk about how the family is doing. The small eating area of the bakery is usually packed on weekends, sometimes with lines out the door. Chatter about the last big boxing match, family news or the previous night's escapades fill the bakery on any given day.

"It becomes not just a place for people to gather, it becomes a community," Melendez said. Children of customers have now become customers with their own children; when a long-time customer dies, employees attend the funeral, according to Melendez. When Melendez took the reins of the business from her father, she gave the bakery some measured updates such as a new logo, new bilingual menus and putting the business on social media. The bakery continues to succeed into the 21st century due to an even-handed blend of her innovative spirit and her father's tried and true traditions. Beyond more than 30 pastry items for sale, the business has expanded to include 16 sandwich and breakfast items.

In the same vein, Melendez is hoping to see the business continue to expand. Melendez said the business could possibly grow into a second location at one of the several farmers markets just outside of Reading. Other than that, Melendez said she is happy to watch the bakery continue to be a neighborhood staple.

"I'll take another 25 years," Melendez said with a smile.

Contact Anthony Orozco 610-371-5015 or [email protected].