The venerated El Bolillo bakery on Airline finally moved into its enormous, brand-new store last week. Wednesday, May 7, marked a new era for the little panaderia and its customers, who will no longer have to struggle to find a parking space or elbow their way through the massive weekend crowds for their empanada or marranito fix.

Houstonist visited El Bolillo in its new store this weekend, and we were surprised to find a whole new concept in place, slightly similar to H-E-B's Mi Tienda in Pasadena. Located directly across Airline from the old location, the new El Bolillo is immaculate inside and out, with gleaming new floors and bright signs throughout.

Customers are greeted by the sight of a mouth-watering tortilleria, a separate ordering counter for cakes (they specialize in wedding and quinceanera cakes) and a large pass-thru with a direct view of the ovens in the kitchen that churn out one batch of hot bolillos after another. There is also now a separate section for buying dairy items and cold drinks.

The same women who greeted us every weekend at El Bolillo are still there behind the counters, enjoying their palatial new digs and bagging your scrumptious pastries with warp speed. With the beautiful Connie's Seafood Market on one side and the near-completion of the Texas Spice Company on the other, this tiny section of Airline is threatening to go positively upmarket. A little of the old charm at El Bolillo may be gone now, but at least the parking is good.

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El Bolillo
(across the street from) 2428 Airline Drive
713.861.8885