Earlier this week, Patrick was sent a message from a reader that Stockyards City’s beloved bakery, Panaderia la Herradura, 2235 SW 14th, was closing this Friday. Having been there a few times in their two decade-plus run—typically for their pan de muerto in October—I realized had to visit there one last time, if only to pay my respects and say adios.
It was a rainy afternoon—suitable, I thought—when I visited the somewhat darkened store. La Herradura translates to “the Horseshoe,” a fitting name for any store in the stockyards, a part of town that is more than just Cattlemen’s Steakhouse and a few Western wear outlets. Every time I had been in the bakery, it was always a sweet mixture of farmhands and tourists, buying a sweet lunch or a few souvenirs.
But today, it was a somewhat lonely place, the sign on the door promoting their closing sale, promising everything at 30% off—except cigarettes, of course. A quiet woman sat at the counter watching television as I walked in; with novena candles, loteria cards and a few cans of eats here and there, I was surprised that there was anything left on the shelves.