000170 Visit since
I was surprised to discover the good
quality of leather shoes made in the Port. Don Alberto
Martínez, a shoemaker, made me a pair of beautiful
dressy boots that I loved. The material used for shoemaking
was of the finest glace leather. All shoes were hand
sewn and had a perfect finish. Although it was a small
company there were a lot of people involved in the business.
Amongst the shoemakers, I remember Don Leocadio González
and his wife, Luisita. They had a big family and the
shoe business helped support them. Doña Julia
Chavarín was a skilled shoemaker as were José
Aguilar and Refugio López. In later years I remember
Don Chayo Robles and his helpers José Hernández,
Beto Ramos, and Isidro Gómez who ran a workshop
near our house.
Tailor shops were popular business
in town. Venturita Arreola was one of the oldest tailors
in town. He taught tailoring to several local people.
Amongst his students were Enedina Herrera, Juanita Garibaldy,
Carmen Cortés and Carmelita de González.
Other local tailors were Jesús Pérez and
Adolfo Nuñez. Our good friend, Jesús Avalos
still practices this profession.
Toño Perez from Mascota moved
to Vallarta in 1929. Prior to Pérez, the Macedo
brothers, Jesús and Asunción, were the
only two barbers in town. Toño opened a tailor
and barbershop. He was the first barber to use a rotating
chair from the United States, which was purchased for
Pérez by a man from San Sebastian who bought
it from Hacienda Ithaca. Goyo Espinoza followed Pérez’s
steps and became a popular local barber. In 1939, Goyo
was the first person to rent out there bicycles he had
purchased. His bicycle business became very successful.
Local young men were always in line waiting for bicycles.
Some of them were on the streets trying to learn how
to ride the bikes and others trying skilled stunts.
I cannot forget to mention the dressmarkers.
In particular, sisters García de León,
Gumercinda called Gume for short and Domitila Domi.
They were famous for their high couture fashions, specializing
in wedding dresses. They made my friend Cuca Lepe a
beautiful weddig gown. The Ruelas sisters, Lupe and
Victoria, as well as the Villalvazo, were great dressmakers.
Another popular business was bakeries.
The bread made in Vallarta was delicious. The bakers
used the best ingredients and never compromised the
quality for lesser products. There was an abundance
of milk and eggs; the results were delicious trays of
a variety of bread, sweet rolls, etc. The sweet rolls
had the most topical names: conchas (shells), espejos
(mirrors), costras (crust tops), Virginias (woman name),
picones con canela (cinnamon sugar rolls) and the traditional
galleta dura (Melba type cracker) always toasty, crunchy
and originally made in Vallarta.
I could not tell who was the best
baker in town because they were all good. Some preferred
the products of Victoriano Quintero, nicknamed Talano;
others preferred a baker nicknamed El Mordullo. There
were a few other bakers, such as Pascual Ruiz, the brothers
Leonardo and Cuco, and Don Enrique Gómez. One
thing I can say for sure is that people from the nation’s
Capital visiting Vallarta, always praised our delicious
bread and pastries.
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