Italian bakery planned for former Gladstone Park Bakery site

by BRIAN NADIG

The Italian-style New Paradise Bakery and Gelato could be opening as early as this fall inside the former Gladstone Park Bakery, 5742-44 N. Milwaukee Ave.

The original New Paradise is located in Palermo on the island of Sicily, and and its owner is a partner in the planned Chicago location, according to John Rubino, one of the other partners in the project.

The Gladstone Park Bakery building was an ideal location for the project given that baking equipment was included with the purchase of the property, Rubino said. He added the “great workmanship” that went into the original construction was apparent when considering whether to buy the building and that the second-floor apartments will provide rental income before the bakery opens.

“I was looking for a bakery to invest in,” Rubino said. “Basically everything was already there. We’ll be getting (the equipment) refurbished and cleaning it and putting it to use.”

Planned renovations include the addition of seating area for diners and the installation of gelato making equipment.

The menu will feature an array of pastries, including “authentic” Italian specialties “mixed in with some  traditional German and Polish” baked goods, homemade gelato, sandwiches, espressos and other beverages, Rubino said.

The Gladstone Park Bakery closed about 10 years ago, and in its heyday the bakery reportedly sold about 400 decorated each weekend, with higher totals in May and June due to graduations and weddings.