Chef‑owner Felix Zepeda and co‑owner Ariana Cabral will open Rosca, a bagel bakery rooted in family history, at 1502 W. 18th St. in Pilsen. The space, once home to the Slice Factory, is slated to welcome customers by late December or early January.
Family Roots Give the New Shop Special Meaning
Zepeda, a native of the neighborhood, recalls that his grandparents and many relatives lived in the building’s upstairs apartment more than fifty years ago. “There were maybe nine or eleven of them living there at the same time,” he said. “It just hits home, and we feel super lucky to have this location.”
From Pandemic Kitchen to Pop‑Up Success
Rosca began as a pandemic‑era baking experiment in Zepeda’s condo. The brand grew through pop‑ups, farmers markets, and a partnership with Panadería Irámuco at 1339 W. 18th St., where the bakery provided an oven and shelf space for the bagels. “Once we got in there, that’s when it was like, take off,” Zepeda recalled.
Support from Local Entrepreneurs
The owners of Hoste, a cocktail production facility and event hall at 1857 W. 16th St., invited Rosca to use an underutilized portion of their building during its early days. “We were proud to have Rosca at Hoste during their early days in Pilsen,” said co‑owner Jordan Tepper. “The passion and hard work Felix and Ariana put into Rosca every day is inspiring, and we couldn’t be more excited for them to be opening their own brick‑and‑mortar space in the neighborhood.”
Renovation Challenges and Community Help
Transforming the old Slice Factory has been a month‑long effort documented on Rosca’s Instagram, showing demolition, construction, and design updates. One major hurdle was the oven; Zepeda wanted a large rotating‑deck model, but the building required significant structural work and permits. Family members and friends, including David Guerra and Julian Negron, have helped move equipment, clean the space, and provide hands‑on labor.
“If customers really understood the amount of time and the trials he’s gone through to perfect what people have fallen in love with, I think that would be really surprising for them,” Negron said. Nadia Cabral, Ariana’s niece, added, “They were so small and it started literally out of nothing … and it just grew very quickly out of nowhere. I’m so proud of them and their work because it’s hard, and they did it.”
Bagel Menu Highlights Mexican Flavors
Rosca’s seven signature bagels draw on Mexican flavors and childhood memories. Offerings include a mango‑and‑pepita bagel, a Mexican Everything bagel, and a red mole bagel. “Our product is something that’s very familiar but different enough for people to want to come and explore,” Zepeda explained.
What the New Space Will Offer
The brick‑and‑mortar shop will expand the menu with sandwiches, additional pastries, new bagel flavors, and a coffee program designed to pair with the baked goods. The interior will feature lounge seating and workstations for students and remote workers. “I want people to feel like they’re walking into their grandma’s house, but without the plastic on the couches,” Zepeda said.
Both owners see the shop as a neighborhood asset. “We don’t need to travel miles away, blocks away to go and get it. We’re right next door. We’re here,” Zepeda affirmed, emphasizing the importance of local, high‑quality food for Pilsen’s small‑business community.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
