History

The Ferlita Bakery

The Master Baker of Ferlita Bakery, Ralph Reyes

One of the many immigrants who came to Ybor City in 1896 was a Sicilian, Francisco Ferlita. He purchased a plot of land on the corner of 9th Avenue and 19th Street and constructed a wooden building housing a bakery. The oven was heated with wood fires. He named the bakery "La Joven Francesca".

After the bakery became established, Ferlita returned to Sicily, married Maria Cameratta and brought her back to Ybor City. In 1922 a fire destroyed the bakery, leaving only the brick over standing.

By 1923 Ferlita had built a new and larger bakery of yellow brick to house the original oven plus a second one next to it. The floor tiles were brought from Spain. The ovens were fitted with oil burners, the hot air being distributed throughout the ovens through tubes. Each morning delivery boys distributed fresh bread throughout the community. After the death of Francisco Ferlita in 1931, his sons managed the business until 1973 when the bakery closed as Ybor City declined in population and prosperity. It reopened as the Ybor City State Museum in 1976 and forms part of the museum complex owned and maintained by the Florida State Park Service.

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