In Havana, there is an intersection known as the Esquina de Tejas. It is famous, among other things, for a bakery that always delighted the locals passing through and for the cafes and bars that were located there.
The intersection of four roadways
At the Tejas Corner, four important thoroughfares converge: 10 de Octubre Avenue, Infanta Avenue, Montes Avenue, and Cerro Avenue. It is a very central point. From there, you can easily reach any place in Havana.
It is an area with a lot of traffic at all hours, even at night, and perhaps it was именно this that made it famous at the end of the 19th century. By 1900, it was already a corner with its own name.
Why is it called Esquina de Tejas?
In the neighborhood, the houses located in the area where the roads converged had roofs made of French tiles. During the Republic, it became more popular for having a tavern, a bar, a boarding house, a store, and a bakery.
The location was strategic for establishing these businesses that began to be known as El Bodegón de Tejas, Bar Moral, Comercio La Cantabria, Fonda El Globo de Tejas, and Panadería de Tejas.
A Full-fledged Corner of Tiles
That's how one thing leads to another. There were people, food, drinks, and the opportunity to take a pause before catching transportation that would take you to another part of the city. All that was missing was something that would make you want to stay a little longer.
Many residents of Havana still remember the Valentino Cinema because it was a major source of entertainment at the busy Esquina de Tejas. The only competition it faced, during the Republic era, was the cockfighting ring located across the street.
A corner that changes with time
When the Revolution succeeded, many of these businesses were intervened, some were closed, and a few retained the purpose for which they were created.
In that case, there's the Tejas café, where you can still be fortunate enough to catch the smell of bread as you pass by. However, little remains of its flavor, quality, variety, and nothing of that prosperous business that once spread bread throughout Havana.
Filed under: