WEST HAVEN, Oct. 3, 2025 — (Pictured): Mayor Dorinda Borer, center, helps Gusto Bakery owner Jesus Paredes, center right, cut the ribbon to celebrate the bakery’s grand opening at 17 Wagner Place on Friday, Oct. 3.
Joining the ribbon-cutting are, from left, West Haven state Rep. Bill Heffernan, 4th District Councilman Gary Donovan, business community friend Anthony Reilly, Gusto employees and Simon McDonald, the director of membership and marketing at the Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber-organized ceremony was also marked by West Haven Economic Development Director Steve Fontana and chamber board members Robert Creigh and Erin Eberhardt, the owner of West Shore Associates of West Haven.
The event featured remarks by Borer, McDonald and Paredes, the son and grandson of bakers, who thanked the mayor and the chamber for welcoming his business to West Haven.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our community,” Borer said, “and I look forward to watching your bakery grow and thrive in West Haven.”
Gusto is located in a small-business plaza at Sawmill Road and Elm Street and is the second bakery to open near the center of West Haven since Peschell’s Pastry Shop closed at 107 Campbell Ave. in 2013 after 67 years of business.
The new 1,800-square-foot bakery specializes in a variety of house-made breads, cakes, cannoli, cookies, doughnuts, flan, pastries and rolls.
Paredes also sells baked goods to wholesalers across Connecticut and New York.
Gusto is open Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday from 6 a.m.-3 p.m. The space was formerly occupied by Kidz Clothing Closet.
(City Photo/Steve Fontana)
Gusto Bakery specializes in a variety of house-made breads, cakes, cannoli, cookies, doughnuts, flan, pastries and rolls. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)
