A new bakery along North Mays Street provides a beautiful story of romance melded into its name, and the sweet aroma of authentic Mexican baked goods swirling about its interior six days a week.  

Callejón del Beso Bakery opened Aug. 30 at 2021 N. Mays St., Suite 500, tucked into a shopping center behind Mr. Gatti’s Pizza. That’s actually quite fitting, considering its name translates to “Alley of the Kiss.” 

Callejón del Beso is a joint venture between three owners, including Juan Carlos Naranjillo, who together with his wife Yolanda have long harbored wishes of owning their own bakery. Having children derailed that for a while, but Juan Carlos worked for a well-known local bakery for over two decades in the meantime. 

Years of dreaming about possible locations for a bakery of their own finally yielded results, and they focused on delivering Mexican “pan dulce” you’d find in Guanajuato, Tabasco and beyond. Examples include:  

• Conchas: Named after the seashells they resemble, these may be the most recognizable pan dulce in the United States. Soft and mildly sweet, conchas are usually topped by a mix of flour, butter and sugar in white, pink, yellow or chocolate.  

• Empanadas: You may see savory versions of these, but empanadas are delightful pockets of goodness, often with pineapple or pumpkin filling in a sweet dough baked golden brown.  

• Orejas: Named after the ears they resemble, these crispy creations are buttery and coated in caramelized sugar.  
   

Callejón del Beso also offers a mix of Mexican cookies, cupcakes and Danishes, as well as coffee and other drinks. They even added breakfast tacos and breakfast tortas. They’ll also make cakes, tres leches and other desserts upon order.  

About that name  

The ages-old story traces its way to Guanajuato, where a young couple started a relationship over the objections of the girl’s father, who wanted her to marry someone richer. Upon discovering the relationship, the father locked his daughter into her bedroom, vowing to keep her there until he could marry her to a rich nobleman.  

Her boyfriend, however, found her bedroom temptingly close to a neighboring home, close enough to embrace his love. Invigorated, he negotiated with the owner of the neighboring house until he was able to purchase it. At last, the young lovers could be together, forever.  

One night, the couple was lost in a kiss when the girl’s father walked in, discovering their forbidden relationship had continued. Enraged, he killed his daughter, and her boyfriend fell to his death in an attempt to jump into the room to save her.  

The Callejón del Beso neighborhood remains one of Guanajuato’s top tourist attractions.  

Find them 

Callejón del Beso Bakery can be found online on Facebook and Instagram, and is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and each Saturday, and from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. each Friday. It is closed each Sunday.