The original Cafe Laguardia was named Los Cubanitos (the little Cubans) and was founded in 1950 in a small town outside Havana called Bainoa. Most Cubans refer to Bainoa as "El Pueblo del Burro" or the town of the donkey. Legend has it that in the days of pre-indoor plumbing, there was a donkey that would carry fresh water to the local residents and businesses.
Cafe Laguardia (Los Cubanitos) was founded by the late Roger Laguardia (left, far right) and his partner Lazaro Ubanelles. It was a combination restaurant, grocery store and bar, strategically located in the center of town across the street from the main bus stop—actually, the only bus stop in town! It became known throughout Cuba as a friendly, cozy place with great atmosphere and superb home style cooking.
In 1970, Roger, his wife Carmen, and their two sons—Carlos and Jorge—left Cuba and came to America. Roger worked in a factory until his retirement. One year after he retired, he suffered a heart attack and saw this as a sign that he needed to get back to work! With his passion and burning desire to get back to the love that he left behind in Cuba, he opened Cafe Laguardia, which is still located at 2111 West Armitage Avenue in the Bucktown neighborhod of Chicago.
After listening to the demand from customers that Cafe Laguardia needed to expand closer to the Suburbs, Roger and Jorge set out to look for the perfect spot. In early 2004 they found a spot that was perfect because it was near two major suburbs: Oak Park and Elmwood Park. They both decided that this would be the home of Cafe Laguardia West.
In memory of Roger Laguardia and Lazaro Ubanelles.