The sourdough bread specialist, Pioneer French Bakery, has its early 1900s origins in Ocean Park before family patriarch, John B. Garacochea, moves the bakery to Rose Ave in Venice in 1916.
In 1908, French immigrant John F. Gentillon,1 age 45 and living at 514 Pacific St, announces the New French Bakery2 at the corner of 5th and Pacific.3 French bread is made in a single brick oven (at 2201 5th St) and delivered throughout Santa Monica.
In 1911, Basque immigrant John B. Garacochea4 (age 28) comes from Kern County to take over the baking business. Garacochea, living at 2209 5th St, changes the bakery name to the National French Bakery.
With Santa Monica going dry,5 in 1916, Garacochea, who has an associated wine business, moves the National French Bakery to Rose Ave in Venice.
Three generations of the Garacochea family operate the Venice bakery, renamed the Pioneer French Bakery in 1940, until they sell it in 2006.
Jean François Gentillon (1863 – 1925). In 1880, Garacochea (age 17) leaves Hautes-Alpes in southeastern France for the US. In 1900, he is a fine wine merchant on 5th St in Ocean Park. From 1910, he works as a laborer for the city.
In addition to Gentillon, Ferdinand Estachy (1861 – 1941), also a French immigrant from Hautes-Alpes who comes to the US in 1887 (age 26), is involved in opening the New French Bakery at 5th and Pacific.
Temple Street, extending from 4th St to 6th St and established with the 1887 Ocean Spray Tract, is renamed Pacific Street in 1917.
Jean Baptiste Garacochea (1883 – 1940). In 1899, Garacochea (age 16) leaves Aldudes in the French Pyrenees for the US. He joins the Basque community in Tehachapi, where, in 1910, he is operating a retail bakery. In 1911, he comes to Ocean Park to run the National French Bakery at 2201 5th St. The bakery delivers sourdough bread as far north as Malibu and south as San Pedro, at the same time selling a red wine that Garacochea makes from Bakersfield grapes.
In 1917, California experiences a period of growing sentiment to restrict or ban alcohol. Santa Monica votes to prohibit the sale of intoxicating beverages. Liquor remains legal in "wet" enclaves like Venice, then an independent city, until nationwide Prohibition is ratified in 1919.