Tropicana Bakery & Cuban Café

Tropicana Bakery & Cuban Café is the product of almost two decades of restaurant experience and innovative thinking from a single pioneer family- the Madrazo family. In the early 1990’s, Melvyn Madrazo Sr., a Cuban-born American citizen, had the idea to open a restaurant which served rotisserie chicken prepared both Cuban-style and Mexican-style. After discussing the idea with his wife and children, the beginning of a long-term family collaboration began. The Madrazo family business evolution began with the creation of Los Pollos, a restaurant which was opened in the early 1990’s. The Madrazos created a unique marinade which contained both Mexican seasonings and Cuban citrus style mojo. It was this Madrazo marinade which formed the signature dish at Los Pollos. From the outset, Melvyn’s vast experience as part owner and vice president of production for a large emblem manufacturing business with over 300 employees served the family business well. Los Pollos was a success, and growth was soon to follow with the opening of a second restaurant in 1995 in East Los Angeles (Los Pollos #2) and a third, which opened in 1997 in the city of Downey (Los Pollos #3) and 2006 (Tropicana Chicken in Bell Gardens). The operation evolved from a single store to multiple-unit operators.