Walking into Hugo’s Downtown Bakery & Deli in Blackfoot, you get a sense that you are about to taste something wonderful and authentic.

Authentic Mexican food, as well as pastries and breads made daily by Hugo Rodriguez and his son, Hugo Jr.

Hugo moved from Mexico over 30 years ago. He worked in California for a company that made tortillas for several years before relocating to Salt Lake City, where they lived for about 10 years and also worked in the tortilla-making industry.

The decision to move to Blackfoot was made when they aimed to open a family tortilla business here, but they soon realized that the costs of equipment and startup were higher than expected. So, when the Downtown Bakery came up for sale a year and a half ago, they jumped at the opportunity.

Since they didn’t have much baking experience, they had a lot to learn. They had the recipes and customer base for the bread that the Downtown Bakery supplied to several local markets, but they wanted to expand. They remodeled the building and added seating when they broadened their offerings to include daily lunch specials and Mexican pastries. Several months ago, they also added a cooler where produce, freshly made masa and their tortillas are now available. They offer different daily specials, but always have the regular tacos and burritos available.

Hugo Jr. leads a busy life. While in Salt Lake City, he attended barber school. After finishing, he has been working as a barber during the week in Salt Lake. Then, he returns to Blackfoot on weekends to help his father and also works at the farmers market in Idaho Falls during the summer months. Never one to sit still, he encourages young people who want to get ahead in life to understand that hard work and long hours are necessary to turn dreams into reality.

Hugo Jr. expressed how much they care for those who have to work late in the fields. They are open until 8 p.m. during the week, so those who cannot make it in during the day can pick up dinner on their way home. He also stated that he offers haircuts to these individuals as well, using those skills to make it easier for those who work late.

They have been weighing their options to open another location in Idaho Falls, offering more of the baked goods there. They have many customers who come from Idaho Falls to purchase items from them.

However, the tortilla business is always their first love. They have begun offering these through the bakery, made fresh daily.

Their downtown location has enabled them to receive many lunch orders from other businesses. They also do special orders for sandwiches and offer catering.

Nothing goes to waste; if there is anything left over, it is donated to senior centers or given to local farmers. The support for the migrant community is strong, and they value the hard work these individuals do.

Located at 111 W. Bridge St., Hugo’s Downtown Bakery & Deli is open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. They can be found on Facebook or by calling 831-750-4698.