Just a few days ago, Caleb Orellana, owner and baker of Cal’s Bakeshop, announced that he was closing his cottage bakery sometime in 2025. Hearts were broken. Folks on social media (including us at Tucson Foodie) couldn’t believe it. However, it all had to do with the wording of the post.

So, he’s closing this cottage bakery operations but he’s opening his very first brick-and-mortar location at 2707 E. Broadway Blvd. — the iconic building Rocco’s Little Chicago operated out of for more than 25 years.

There’s no exact opening date just yet for Cal’s Bakeshop, but it’s exciting to know another beloved local business is going to keep the building alive on Broadway Boulevard, just next to Z Street. In the video, Anthony “Rocco” DiGrazia takes a break from watering the plants in front of the former Rocco’s to toss Orellana the keys — “You ready? Let’s do this,” he says to him.

You can check out the passing of the torch on Instagram.

“So let me explain,” said Orellana. “Cal’s bake shop isn’t actually closing. I’m just at a point where I can expand beyond the cottage bakery. It’s crazy to think that I’m at this point now when two years ago, I was taking a two-month-long break due to me being overworked — I was tired, I didn’t sleep. I lost the passion that I had for baking. I was unsure if I was even coming back to it. Luckily, within those two months, I found the love again. I started baking again, and I just didn’t stop. It’s scary and exciting to know that it’s time to let go of working for my home and step into the new path of opening up a brick-and-mortar.”

Learn more about Cal’s Bakeshop in Rita Connelly’s July 2022 article, “The Sweet Journey.”

Cal’s Bakeshop has plans to move into the former Rocco’s Little Chicago location at 2707 E. Broadway Blvd. To keep up with the latest, follow Cal’s Bakeshop on Instagram.

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