If you have been wondering where to get authentic French pastries made by French bakers, then look no further than CommonWealth Coffeehouse and Bakery.

The bakery and café gained popularity right out of the gate in 2015, with the opening of its first location in a former residential house on Broadway. It’s gourmet coffee and artfully presented pastries and brunch dishes earned a huge following.

“We took that house in early 2014, renovated it completely, it was falling apart. It was a triplex, actually,” Owner Jose Ramon Campos said.

The café was so successful, the owners opened five other locations. “And now we are here….it’s crazy really,” Campos says, almost in disbelief of the cafe's success in a tough and unforgiving industry.

Downtown serenity

The most recent location, at Hemisfair Park, opened in January of 2018 and offers an idyllic setting to complement its dreamy cuisine. Inside the quaint house, café-goers are greeted with a cozy, home-like atmosphere. The kitchen is quietly tucked away behind a welcoming counter displaying its selection of pastries.

“We think it really goes with the original feel and concept of CommonWealth Coffee,” Campos said. Like the Broadway location, he renovated the 1880’s-era home on the edge of the park. The opening of this café comes on the heels of the addition of the innovative Yanaguana Gardens family park.

The restaurant’s patio overlooks the park’s splashpad and sandbox. It also offers stunning views of the Tower of the Americas and the downtown skyline.

Authentic French inspiration

Campos’ vision was to fulfill a niche in San Antonio of French-inspired pastries and cuisine. To achieve that, he brought in two bakers from France. One of them is from a legacy French baking family and brings a high quality of baking standards the French are known for around the world.

“His parents are bakers, he is a third generation baker from France, so I think his family has three bakeries in France,” Campos says. "It's kind of the American dream, being fulfilled for him."

Campos added that one particular French pastry favorite is the Pain Au Chocolat. The two batons of chocolate used in the pastry are imported directly from France.

Fun with fusion

Campos himself understands the experience of moving to the United States. His upbringing in Mexico is yet another influence on the CommonWealth menu. On a typical Saturday or Sunday, customers frequently order the café’s molletes. It’s a Mexican open sandwich, but CommonWealth puts a unique spin on the tradition, making it with fresh-baked French bread.

“That’s a traditional Mexican dish that you would have. My dad would make it when we would wake up for breakfast. But, we take the French bread...you spread butter, you spread some beans on top, you put some cheese and then, if you wanted some meat, you put in some chorizo, some sour cream, and then some pico de gallo. Not only is it really filling, but it’s delicious,” Campos said.

When in Rome

The owners of CommonWealth quickly realized the brunch crowd in San Antonio would be demanding the ubiquitous San Antonio staple of breakfast tacos.

“We are trying to be French-inspired, we are bringing bakers from France, but they don’t really have breakfast tacos in France, right?”, Campos says. “But, you are in San Antonio, you have to adapt to your market.”

Campos says people have been very receptive to the breakfast tacos, which include chorizo and egg and bacon and egg, among other selections.

What's in a name?

The coffee part of CommonWealth Coffeehouse and Bakery is just as important as the food, according to Campos. The restaurant partnered with a top-20 roaster in the nation based out of Austin.

Campos says his team of baristas are highly trained, creative and constantly innovating.

"Our head barista, Jordan, made a latte called 'Sin Nombre' or without a name, and he just made it. I don't even know what it is in it, but it's delicious and people come get it all the time."

A natural fit

The restaurant’s location nestled in a downtown green space allows for some interesting opportunities. The café built its own chicken coop, which obviously helps provide the all-important eggs needed for any brunch menu.

Campos says the chickens lay four to six eggs every day. So, if you order a chorizo and egg breakfast taco, you could be getting the freshest eggs in San Antonio.

There is also a garden with raised beds were the chef can grow the freshest herbs and spices.

Secret to his success

The rapid expansion of the CommonWealth Coffee empire has surprised many in San Antonio and in the restaurant industry in particular. The appealing blend of European and Texan favorites seems to have struck a chord with San Antonians. If you ask Campos how he achieved this magical recipe, he says cannot take the credit.

“It just goes to our people. Really, being able to count on our staff, day in and day out, being on time, making pastries, make the food, make the coffee, clean the plates. It’s a lot and I think they do a fantastic job,” Campos says glowingly of his employees, who are no doubt inspired by Campos’ own infectious enthusiasm for his labor of love.

CommonWealth's Hemisfair location serves brunch on weekends at 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The location is also open Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. It is located just east of the intersection Alamo Street and Cesar Chavez, near the Yanaguana Gardens sandbox and splashpad.