A large-scale bakery offering a variety of traditional Mexican fare could move into an abandoned Walgreens on Corpus Christi’s Westside.
Known under an economic development “code name” as Project Concha, El Bolillo Bakery touts pan dulce, pan de muerto, rosca de reyes, cuerno de queso, panaderos — and, fittingly, conchas and bolillos — among others, city documents show.
The company mass-manufactures baked goods for grocery stores, restaurants and wholesalers, and also provides individual sales such as custom-made cakes, according to a presentation made before the Type B board on Sept. 10.
The presentation was part of a pitch requesting $363,000 in tax incentives to open up shop.
Clearance from the Type B board represents among the first steps in
brokering economic development agreements backed with sales taxes.
Should the project move forward as planned, it would represent expansion of the family franchise, joining an existing five locations in Houston, according to the presentation.
The proposed agreement calls for creation of about 121 new jobs bolstering a $3.6 million yearly payroll, documents show.
There are also opportunities such as providing student internships, said company representative Catherine Nash, addressing the board Sept. 10.
“Like any manufacturing organization that moves into a community, they don't intend to stay within their four walls,” she told the board, speaking remotely. “They're very interested in being active and available to the community — hopefully with the potential of growing even more over the years as the demand requires.”
El Bolillo Bakery is expected to spend about $6 million between inventory, supplies and improvements to the former Walgreens property at 2101 Morgan Ave., should the project reach fruition, according to the presentation.
The $363,000 in incentives would be dedicated to creating new jobs in the community, as well as infrastructure, equipment, furniture and fixtures, it states.
The incentives requested are drawn from a pool of collected sales taxes, one-eighth cent approved by voters to support certain kinds of economic development agreements.
The board unanimously voted in favor of the initial agreement, passing it with the condition of an amendment related to the city’s ability to issue a default letter on the contract.
Company representatives said the change would be reviewed.
Should the final version of the agreement be passed by the board, the contract would still need sign-off by the majority of the City Council.
The earliest that may happen would be Oct. 13, staff said.
Kirsten Crow covers city government and water news. Have a story idea? Contact her at kirsten.crow@caller.com.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Large-scale El Bolillo Bakery could make a home in Corpus Christi
