⦁ The inspiration for Palermo Bakery originated in the town of Altavilla Milicia, on the north coast of Sicily in the province of Palermo. As a little boy there, Joe inherited the tradition of baking from his grandfather, who owned the bakery next to the City Hall. Family legend insists that Joe was actually born on the bakery table, as the family business expanded; Joe’s uncle built the Bar Greco, which continues to thrive in Altavilla today as the premier pasticceria and gelateria.

When Joe came to Chicago, he met and married Paula, also from Altavilla Milicia Together with Paula’s brother Loreto, the three of them worked on creating a bakery that would offer the finest delicacies of Sicilian pastry-making in Chicago and provide the most genuine Sicilian atmosphere outside of the island.

“What people find here,” says Paula, is the real thing. Those who really know the culture enjoy coming here because it feels like home. But all of our customers like the warm welcome.

Original / Palermo Bakery

Fresh baked to order cookies, cakes and cannoli are our specialties. Palermo Bakery applies the highest standard of quality in purchasing ingredients to ensure our skilled bakers produce top quality baked goods. We candy our own oranges which are used for garnishing our delicate pastries or as part of ingredients in the making of our delicious amaretti (almond paste) cookies. We are a scratch bakery and everything we sell is made in house, from our cookies to our cannoli shells and filling.

If you are a business and you would like to carry or distribute our products please call 708.695.5998 and ask for Paula or Loreto.