How a Family Vacation Inspired Raj Pingili to Bring Paris Baguette to Towson, Maryland

Raj Pingili wasn’t looking for a new business idea when he and his family stopped at a Paris Baguette* in New York. They were just grabbing a bite to eat while traveling home from Hawaii. But that simple stop turned into something more. The pastries, the presentation, the experience — it stuck with them. They found themselves craving it again and again, and every time they traveled, they searched for another Paris Baguette.

As someone with years of experience in the retail and pharmacy space, Pingili knew a good thing when he saw it. He started thinking, ”Why don’t we have anything like this near us?” That question eventually led to action. Now, he’s opening his first Paris Baguette café in Towson, Maryland, with plans to expand in the future. More than just a new business venture, this project is personal. It’s about sharing something his family loves with the community he cares about, and creating a space where others can experience the same kind of connection.

1851 Franchise spoke to Pingili about his franchise journey with Paris Baguette and his plans for the future. Here’s what he had to say. 

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?

Raj Pingili: We were going to Hawaii for my wife’s 40th birthday, and the flight was only available through New York, so we stopped there. While coming out of the train station in New York, we stepped out to get coffee and went to Starbucks, but their oven was broken. They told us to check out the bakery across the street because it had really good food, and it was Paris Baguette. 

We went there — starving — and absolutely loved it. We weren’t sure if it was really that good or if we were just hungry, but after that, everywhere we went, we started looking for Paris Baguette. All four of us — my wife, my two kids, and I — loved it so much.

I started thinking, “We don’t have anything like this nearby.” I’m a businessperson — I work in real estate and I’m a pharmacist by profession. We kept craving it, and that’s when I told my kids I’d look into some possibilities. That’s how Paris Baguette happened for us.

1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Pingili: I’ve been in the retail business since 2011. I’ve always owned multiple pharmacies. Prior to that, I was a business market director with Walmart in health and wellness, so I’ve always been in retail. I’m a retail person. The food industry is new for me — the bakery and café space — but I’ve always wanted to do something in retail, and this was the first step into franchising for me. This is my first franchising opportunity. But the retail business is something I’ve been doing for quite some time. I have customer-facing experience, management experience, ownership experience and multi-unit experience. So I thought I should try something new, but still within a space where I’m comfortable.

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?

Pingili: Now that I’m in it, I think an established organization having all the processes set up makes a huge difference. For me to learn everything and do it on my own could have taken a couple of years, even if I wanted to do that desperately. But having a system in place — and people helping with new café operations and working alongside me on the construction side — having everything lined up like that made it so much easier.

Just signing those documents and getting started felt like a smooth process. I mean, yes, it comes with fees, but at least there’s a structure already in place to help you get everything taken care of.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Pingili: It was absolutely because of my family and my own personal experience. I wanted to bring that experience to the community. I’m a community pharmacist, so for me, it’s all about that community touch. I’ve always wanted to stay connected to the community. The plan is to first learn the business and then expand to multiple locations down the line. Paris Baguette happened purely because of the family. 

I love the brand’s presentation, and there’s consistency in the product mix. There are so many options to choose from, but at the same time, the quality is always really good. That’s what I like the most.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Pingili: First, I want to learn the operations. Our management training sessions start today, and then I’ll be heading to the home office to join my team that’s already in training. I want to spend some time hands-on with everything.

Once I’ve learned the ins and outs, I believe I’ll be able to provide proper supervision. My ultimate goal is to multiply the units — that’s the bottom line for me. But I want to do it the right way. So first, I’ll learn, and then I plan to open multiple locations.

1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?

Pingili: I can relate to this on a personal level because all four of us — my wife, my two kids, and I — connect with it the same way. My daughter is really into baking and my wife is, too. They both enjoy it so much. I’m just looking forward to bringing this to more communities in Maryland. 

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?

Pingili: Like any business, there’s always some risk involved. But with Paris Baguette, the hand-holding throughout the process has been really good. I think it’s a great option to explore. So far, I’ve felt that the whole process has been very streamlined.

ABOUT PARIS BAGUETTE: 

Paris Baguette is a bakery café franchise with more than 4,000 units across the globe. The global brand first franchised in the U.S. in 2015 and has since established over 200 locations in markets across North America, making them one of the premier franchise opportunities in their category. Paris Baguette’s primary mission, executed every day by their expert staff of bakers, cakers and baristas, is to provide guests with a warm, welcoming bakery café experience that creates joy for all. To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://ownaparisbaguette.com/.