1851

Alex Hsieh, a lifetime entrepreneur, has never approached business with a focus on what&nbsp;he wants. Rather, he says, he works to identify a need in the community, research potential solutions and bring the best-fit business to the area. Recently, this approach led him to Paris Baguette*.As a loyal customer himself, Hsieh knew the value of having a Paris Baguette in the community; he would even drive from Long Island to Queens to get Paris Baguette cakes. Now, with two locations on Long Island and one in Queens, he has signed to bring a bakery café to Staten Island.1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us.&nbsp;What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Hsieh:&nbsp;I started with self-owned businesses in 1992. For my career, I went straight into business ownership. Back then, it was all cell phones and pagers. That slowed down a little bit, the telecommunications industry changed, and I realized that the only business that will survive is food and entertainment, so I began to shift.About eight years ago, we got involved with bubble tea — Gong Cha. We started creating more Gong Cha locations and also became licensed Starbucks operators. My approach has never been that I choose a business I want to open; I just look around and see what the area needs. I really believed that Long Island needed a Paris Baguette, because the closest one was in Queens. I was driving to Queens just to buy a cake. So, that’s how I got involved with Paris Baguette.&nbsp;We built one and acquired one on Long Island, acquired a corporate store in Queens and now Staten Island is where the need is. For the Staten Island location, I am partnering with our Gong Cha team from the Staten Island Mall, and I have another business partner for locations on Long Island.1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?Hsieh:&nbsp;I thought it would be easier for me to go with a franchise because you get all kinds of support. You don’t have to spend many, many hours figuring stuff out… You just follow the SOPs. At the end, you do pay a lot of royalties, but it’s worth it for the sense of protection. You know you already have a die-hard customer and a loyal client base.1851:&nbsp;What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Hsieh:&nbsp;There’s a need. Out of all the competing brands, Paris Baguette has a stronger team, and they are very aggressively developing. It's a great team to work with. I’ve been their customer for the last 15 years. I love the brand, and I know other people do, too.1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?&nbsp;Hsieh:&nbsp;We probably have 10 Paris Baguette locations in the pipeline right now. We are the exclusive developers for Long Island — there will be a minimum of six locations there. We plan to have two more in Staten Island. We’ve not quite found a second location, but that will probably be close to the Staten Island Mall. The remaining locations will be in the other borough.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?Hsieh:&nbsp;I always had a plan. I told myself, “If this works, I’ll multiply by 10. If it’s good, I’ll do 10 more locations.”I believe that money can look for you. Do the best you can, be a better person and have a vision, and it will come to you.1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?Hsieh:&nbsp;Never give up. You really have to set a goal and have a plan. A lot of people don’t have that goal set up and aren’t willing to make changes or stay out of their comfort zone.&nbsp;ABOUT PARIS BAGUETTE:Paris Baguette is a bakery café franchise with more than 4,000 units across the globe. The brand first franchised in the U.S. in 2015 and has since established nearly 150 locations in markets across the country, making it one of the premier franchise opportunities in its category. Paris Baguette’s primary mission, executed every day by its expert staff of bakers, cakers and baristas, is to share moments of joy with customers and help customers share moments of joy with their friends and family by providing world-class cakes, pastries, coffees, breads and other French-inspired bakery café fare. For more information, please visit<a href="https://parisbaguette.com/franchising/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=after-noticing-a-need-in-new-york-alex-hsieh-signed-to-expand-with-paris-baguette-2722402" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">&nbsp;https://parisbaguette.com/franchising/.</a>

After Noticing a Need in New York, Alex Hsieh Signed to Expand with Paris Baguette

1851 Franchise

The New York entrepreneur, who already owns three locations in the state, has recently signed for a fourth and says there are many more in the pipeline.

after-noticing-a-need-in-new-york-alex-hsieh-signed-to-expand-with-paris-baguette

Comfort Keepers

How This Comfort Keepers® Franchisee Grew From One Acquisition to a Powerhouse

how-this-comfort-keepers-franchisee-grew-from-one-acquisition-to-a-powerhouse

Caring Transitions

What Makes Caring Transitions the Premier Franchise Choice for Senior Move Management

what-makes-caring-transitions-the-premier-franchise-choice-for-senior-move-management

Jollibee

Photo of Jollibee mascot and two smiling people in Jollibee pajamas

How Jollibee’s Culture Fuels a Global Brand People Love

franchise-culture-brand-success

petbar

petbar franchise logo tenth 10th anniversary

10 Years Strong: How petbar Turned One Dallas Boutique Into a Fast-Growing National Franchise

petbar-10-years-strong-franchise-growth

Griswold

Beaumont Enterprise: Local Woman Brings Griswold Home Care Franchise to Greater Beaumont, Texas

griswold-home-care-greater-beaumont-opening

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

How AI Is Transforming Restaurant Operations and Franchises

ai-impact-restaurants-franchises-human-centric-technology

Round Table Pizza Franchisees Take FAT Brands to Court Over Marketing Fund Mismanagement

round-table-pizza-franchisees-take-fat-brands-to-court-over-marketing-fund-mismanagement

FAT Brands Nears Bankruptcy as Creditors Demand Repayment of $1.3 Billion Debt

fat-brands-nears-bankruptcy-as-creditors-demand-repayment-of-13-billion-debt

Callaway Sells Majority Stake in Topgolf to Private Equity for $770 Million

callaway-sells-majority-stake-in-topgolf-to-private-equity-for-770-million

Keith Sizemore headshot, Radiance Holdings

Radiance Holdings Names Keith Sizemore Chief Development Officer

keith-sizemore-radiance-holdings-cdo

image of jerome hanway from right at home Las Cruces, New Mexico 1851 franchise franchisee spotlight

Jerome Hanway Is Building His Right at Home Franchise Around His Mission To Serve

right-at-home-franchise-las-cruces-jerome-hanway

image of manar landis and maha zirn kashoor from griswold franchise in oklahoma city

Sisters Channel Humanitarian Experience Into New Griswold Franchise Serving Oklahoma City Families

griswold-franchise-oklahoma-city-north-manar-landis-maha-zirn-kashoor

image of michael panos and michel panos, owners of mellow mushroom in Atlanta

What Makes Mellow Mushroom a Strong Franchise Investment? Insights From the Panos Family’s Metro Atlanta Portfolio

mellow-mushroom-franchise-panos-restaurant-group-metro-atlanta

image of stephen westerman and matthew westerman, owners Fort Walton Beach Two men and a junk truck

Twin Brothers Move From Managers to Owners with New TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK Franchise on the Gulf Coast

twin-brothers-two-men-and-a-junk-truck-fort-walton-beach

Photo of group of dogs standing together in day care facility

Top Pet Boarding and Day Care Franchise Opportunities for 2025

top-pet-boarding-daycare-franchises

A Practical Playbook: Who To Call First When Franchising Your Business

franchising-your-business-who-to-call-first

The Top 15 Pet Supplies and Retail Franchises for 2025

the-top-15-pet-supplies-and-retail-franchises

AI-related job cuts, October U.S. job cuts, American job cut record

AI-Fueled Layoffs Reshape the U.S. Job Market — And Highlight Franchising’s Resilience

ai-job-cuts-franchising-path-forward

The 15 Top Pet Grooming Franchises To Consider for 2025

the-15-top-pet-grooming-franchises-to-consider

After Noticing a Need in New York, Alex Hsieh Signed to Expand with Paris Baguette

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS