No Result
View All Result
Tampa Magazines
  • Local Knowledge
  • Food & Drink
  • Home & Garden
  • Travel
  • Moving Tampa
  • Sporting
  • Health
  • Tampa Culture
  • ADVERTISE
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • ABOUT
  • PURCHASE A COPY
  • DIGITAL ISSUES
  • EMAIL NEWSLETTERS
  • CONTACT US
  • SHOP
  • MY ACCOUNT
    • Your Membership
    • Profile
    • Update Billing Card
    • Login / Logout
Tampa Magazine
No Result
View All Result
Tampa Magazine
No Result
View All Result

Made in Tampa: Alessi Bakery

Four generations have made Alessi Bakery Tampa's tastiest icon

by McKenna Kelley
September 19, 2018
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

In 1912, a few crucial world events occurred. The Titanic sank; New Mexico and Arizona become states; the Oreo debuted on store shelves. And if you were in Tampa, Alessi Bakery opened its doors. Still hugely successful 106 years later, it’s doing something right.

“It’s really cool when you walk into airports and stores and you’re wearing your Alessi shirt,” says Phil Alessi Jr., the fourth-generation owner. “People come up to you and say, ‘My grandmother got her cake from Alessi and then my mother, and now my children do.’ It’s neat seeing the generations grow with us.”

Founder Nicolo Alessi, Phil’s great-grandfather, came to Tampa from Sicily in 1912 and started a small bakery to provide for his family. Alessi initially specialized in baking fresh Cuban bread, and his son, John, began the enormously popular decorated cake business in the 1930s. Today, Alessi Bakery (which is not affiliated with the Alessi family of Vigo Importing Co.) has become nationally recognized for its Cuban sandwiches, guava pastries, Italian tea cookies, and of course, scachatta and cakes — all made from scratch.

John Alessi Alessi Bakery Cake
John Alessi, Phil Alessi Jr.’s grandfather, decorates a cake in the 1930s (PHOTO: Alessi Family)

“It’s difficult in this area to find bakeries that actually make everything from scratch the way that we do using recipes that we’ve used for decades,” says Melissa Maggiore, Alessi Bakery’s head cake decorator.

Maggiore has been with Alessi for nearly 18 years. She creates all of the bakery’s wedding cakes and the vast majority of its tiered cakes, including treats for Taylor Swift’s Tampa tour stop in 2015 and birthday cakes for Jon Bon Jovi and Joan Jett.

“We do a lot of thinking outside of the box,” Maggiore says. “There’s a lot of bakeries that will do specialty cakes, but most of the time they don’t take it to the level that we can take it.”

Beyond the bakery, the Alessi family has a somewhat surprising side gig. Inspired by a lifelong love of boxing fostered by local promoter Lou Viscusi, Phil Alessi Sr. founded Alessi Promotions in 1967. Names like Joe Frazier and Marvin Hagler fought on Alessi’s more than 400 boxing cards. A photo of Muhammad Ali perusing the Alessi bakery case still hangs in Phil Alessi Jr.’s office. He says he plans to keep the promotion business going, in part as a tribute to his father’s legacy.

“It was a pretty neat thing getting to meet the cast of characters, as he used to call them, in the boxing world,” Alessi says. “It’s something I want to keep going because it’s a passion of mine, and it was a passion of my dad’s.”

Phil Alessi Sr. passed away in May and is widely credited for creating the business that exists today. At just 16 years old, he opened the first of five bakeries across the Tampa Bay area, consolidating them all back into the Alessi Bakery that exists today when the company moved into its home on Cypress Street in the 1960s.

Alessi Sr. also expanded the business into wholesale manufacturing to compete with in-store bakeries at supermarkets, eventually striking a deal with Publix to sell Alessi baked goods in stores. Alessi Bakery operates a 100,000 square-foot facility in Carrollwood that now produces around 150 baked goods for the grocer, along with Kroeger, Walmart and Harris Teeter in North and South Carolina.

“My dad really took it to the level it’s at today,” Alessi Jr. says. “It’s his fingerprints on there.”

Alessi Bakery Cake
A custom Alessi Bakery cake created by Melissa Maggiore and her team

The younger Alessi says his father imparted the importance of quality,  consistency and customer service on his family and staff, creating a good work ethic throughout the generations.

“One of the things he always taught me was you’ve got to wake that baby up in the morning and put it to sleep at night,” Alessi says. “You can’t live on reputation. I live by that, and I teach my children that every day.”

Like he and his siblings did, Alessi’s kids — who range in age from 5 to 15 — spend their free time helping out around the bakery, making sandwiches, assisting cake decorators and ringing up customers.

“They know the point-of-sale system better than I do,” Alessi jokes.

Within in the next 18 months, Alessi says the company plans to expand with a second, smaller cafe elsewhere in Tampa serving a limited product line. Though they have not yet chosen a location, Alessi has an eye on the future with a firm hold on the key to the company’s success.

“One of my goals, to show gratitude to some of the people who have been here a long time, is for them to have their own store that they can run,” he says. “We have a wonderful staff. Without them it’d be very, very difficult. We take a lot of pride in them.”

Tags: Alessi BakerycakesMade in Tampascachatta
Next Post
Local Lagers

Local Lagers

INSTAGRAM

tampabayliveworkplay

TAMPA BAY Live+Work+Play
London’s calling in this month’s travel editio London’s calling in this month’s travel edition, on shelves now! In the issue, we show you how to make the best of @virginatlantic’s new nonstop to Heathrow from TPA.

Have you been to London? Let us know your favorite activities and places from across the pond! 👇

#tampatravel #luxurytravel #luxurytraveller #tpa #tampabaynews #londontourism #londonluxury
The weekend is almost here Tampa Bay! Put these 5️⃣ globally-inspired restaurants on your must visit list to spice up your weekend dinner plans 👀📝

@alesia_restaurant @bellastampa @beijinghousetampa @rasoitampa @pierogi.bar 

#tampabayfoodies #tampaeats #stpetefoodies #tampafoodie #vietnamesefood #indianfood #ukranianfood #italianfood
Spring break is still upon us and if you’re look Spring break is still upon us and if you’re looking for fun activities for your kids this weekend, don’t miss Disney on Ice: Road Trip Adventures at Amalie Arena. Shows start Thursday 3/23 and run through Sunday March 26. Visit DisneyOnIce.com to purchase tickets 🎟️-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
#tampamagazine #southtampamagazine #downtowntampa #tampadowntown #thingstodointampa
 #tampaflorida #tampabayarea
#tampakids #thingstodointampa #thingstodointampabay #floridafamily #floridafamilyphotographer
We are celebrating Women’s History Month by high We are celebrating Women’s History Month by highlighting some of our favorite women-owned restaurants in Tampa. Dine out this month to support them ❤️ and share your favorite women-owned restaurants with us in the comments to spread the love! Don’t miss our 2023 Women’s Edition, ad space reservation deadline is Friday 3/24. Email info@TampaMagazines.com for details. 
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
#tampamagazine #southtampamagazine #downtowntampa #tampadowntown #thingstodointampa
 #tampaflorida #tampabayarea
#tampaeats #tampabayeats #tamparestaurant #tampafoodgirl #tampafoodie #tampafood #tampafoodreview #tampabae #tampawomeninbusiness
Social media sensation, Kevin and his owner Elysse Social media sensation, Kevin and his owner Elysse Gorney have captured the hearts of Tampa Bay. The golden retriever, who loves his duck hats, has become a household name in the Bay Area. Read about his story on our website and swipe 👉🏼to see more of the lovable guy 🐾💛

#TampaBay #DogsOfTampa #HydePark #PeopleOfTampa #GoldenRetriever
Opened in 2017, Beijing House has grown into a bel Opened in 2017, Beijing House has grown into a beloved eatery serving northern-style Chinese cuisine and Szechuan spicy fare 🥡🥢

“Our mission is to bring the most original, unaltered Chinese dishes to Tampa Bay” - Owner, Alice Zhang

Click the link in our bio to read more about Beijing House and other international cuisine around Tampa Bay. 
-
-
-
#tampamagazine #southtampamagazine #tampa #tampaflorida #thingstodointampa #thingstodointampabay #tampafoodie #tampafoodblogger #tampafoodreview
But first, coffee, and lots of it— we’ve got y But first, coffee, and lots of it— we’ve got you covered with five Tampa coffee shops to find the ideal cup to joe to start your day ☕️ who did we miss? Let us know your favorite coffee shops in the comments below 
-
-
- 
#tampamagazine #southtampamagazine #tampa #tampaflorida #downtowntampa #tampabay #tampafoodie #thingstodointampa #tampafoodblog #tampaplaces #coffeeshop #coffeelover
Tampa Bay is one of the most pet friendly cities i Tampa Bay is one of the most pet friendly cities in Florida! If you cant leave your four legged friend at home, check out these local spots for your next dining experience.

#TampaBay #TampaRestaurants #PetFriendly #DogsOfTampa #SouthTampa #thingstodotampafl
Want to enjoy Tampas beautiful outdoors while havi Want to enjoy Tampas beautiful outdoors while having fun? Tampa has many parks across the city that you can soak up the sunshine at! Click the link in our bio to read about Tampa’s Top 5 Best Parks🛝🌞

-
-
-

#tampamagazine #southtampamagazine #downtowntampa #tampadowntown #thingstodointampa
 #tampaflorida 
#tampaparks 
#tampaoutdoors
Ybor City was once known as the cigar making capit Ybor City was once known as the cigar making capital of the world! It is no secret that cigars are part of Tampa culture and the city offers some of the best cigar bars and lounges. Click the link in our bio to read where you can unwind and enjoy a stogie💨

-
-

#tampamagazine #southtampamagazine #downtowntampa #tampadowntown #thingstodointampa
 #tampaflorida 
#cigarstampa 
#barstampa
Load More... Follow on Instagram

  • Local Knowledge
  • Food & Drink
  • Home & Garden
  • Travel
  • Moving Tampa
  • Sporting
  • Health
  • Tampa Culture
  • Advertise
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Purchase a Copy
  • Digital Issues
  • Email Newsletters
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2018 Tampa Magazine. All rights reserved. Part of the Tampa Magazines Network.

No Result
View All Result
  • Tampa Culture
  • Food and Drink
  • Home & Garden
  • Travel
  • Moving Tampa
  • Sporting
  • Health
  • Local Knowledge
  • Advertise
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Purchase a Copy
  • Shop
  • Digital Issues
  • Email Newsletters
  • Contact
  • MY ACCOUNT
    • Your Membership
    • Profile
    • Update Billing Card
    • Login / Logout

© 2018 Tampa Magazine. All rights reserved. Part of the Tampa Magazines Network.