1851

Baccar Ennayal and his wife migrated to the U.S. in 2010, and began pursuing degrees and careers. However, having come from a French-colonized country with heavy French cultural influences, the duo quickly noted a lack of true, French-style baked goods in their area.After finding success with an independently owned restaurant in the Tampa area, the pair began to look into franchising with Paris Baguette* to bring its baked goods to their community. With a franchise agreement signed for one unit, Ennayal says he looks forward to growing to become the community’s go-to local baker.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?Ennayal:&nbsp;My wife and I first migrated to the U.S. back in 2010. I was a student when we came, and I completed an MBA in Kansas City, Missouri. Once I graduated, I got a job offer from a large engineering firm in Tampa, so we moved. I worked there for about eight years, then opened a restaurant with my wife. I wasn’t quite ready to move into self-employment.Since then, we got settled in Tampa, and I was hired at a large law firm. I worked there for about three years before we decided to take the restaurant on full-time. It supports us and our family. We’ve come a long way from migrating and working toward a master’s degree to working in big firms and, now, finally being independent.When we first migrated here, I didn’t make enough. It was not even paycheck to paycheck; I was really relying on family to send me money to finish out each month. Everything I made, I put back into the restaurant. Ultimately, things worked out for us. When things settled down after COVID, we decided to go all-in with Paris Baguette.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?Ennayal:&nbsp;We did our due diligence. Prior to that process, we had a general understanding of how franchising works but knew we would need to find the details.The big thing that I would advise people to do is to consider whether you have the right mindset. You have to be open and understanding. With your own business, you don’t have anyone overseeing the processes. You’re on your own. With franchising, that's different.It’s a positive thing because, when you’re on your own, you tend to mess up. There’s no one to hold you accountable, and you stumble your way through things as you go.With franchising, yes, you have to pay a franchise fee. But you have someone that will hold you accountable, oversee the quality and give you the ropes to guide you through the process.Another thing to consider is that, when you go through the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), you need to understand it and read it very well. I highly recommend calling as many people as possible during that due diligence process.1851:&nbsp;What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Ennayal:&nbsp;The concept, food quality and expansion rate were all reasons that made us confident in Paris Baguette. And, in Florida, as of now, we don’t have a location.&nbsp;What stood out was that Paris Baguette tends to compete with everybody in the industry, but nobody competes with Paris Baguette; they have that niche.1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?&nbsp;Ennayal:&nbsp;Ultimately, we’re starting with the Wesley Chapel location, but our long-term plan is to expand into the Tampa Bay area and Central Florida. We want to be able to provide that local bakery experience where people come and choose whatever they want. We’ll be the local bakers.1851:&nbsp;What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?Ennayal:&nbsp;My wife and I come from a French-colonized country, so there’s a lot of French culture. Down in Florida, as far as we know, there aren’t many bakeries that do things right, according to French standards.When we went on a trip to New York, we were searching for pastries and cakes. We stumbled across Paris Baguette. It was a really nice experience, and we thought, “Why don’t we bring that concept here?” That’s when we started looking into franchising.1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?Ennayal: You have to do your due diligence, and you need to consider your mindset. I’m doing a franchise now and also own the independent restaurant, and it’s very different. In franchising, you have to be okay with being held accountable by someone.ABOUT PARIS BAGUETTE:&nbsp;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&nbsp;<a href="https://parisbaguette.com/franchising/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=local-businessman-and-restaurant-owner-signs-to-bring-paris-baguette-to-the-tampa-bay-area-2722818" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">parisbaguette.com/franchising</a>.&nbsp;

Local Businessman and Restaurant Owner Signs To Bring Paris Baguette to the Tampa Bay Area

1851 Franchise

Baccar Ennayal secured an MBA and worked for both large engineering and legal firms before breaking into the restaurant space. After recognizing a gap in his local market, he inquired about franchising with Paris Baguette.

local-businessman-and-restaurant-owner-signs-to-bring-paris-baguette-to-the-tampa-bay-area

Children's Lighthouse

How This IT Architect Became a Successful Children’s Lighthouse Franchisee

childrens-lighthouse-franchise-san-antonio-justin-leggett

Busy Bee Jumpers

Busy Bee Jumpers Buzzes into Franchising: Three New Franchisees Signed in First 30 Days

busy-bee-jumpers-buzzes-into-franchising-three-new-franchisees-signed-in-first-30-days

Fitness Premier

Fitness Premier 24/7 Clubs Reports Strong Midyear Momentum 

Fitness Premier 24/7 Clubs Reports Strong Midyear Momentum with Revenue Gains, Record Membership, and Strategic Expansion

fitness-premier-mid-year-growth-2025

Woodhouse Spas

image of a woodhouse spa franchise buildings exterior 

Woodhouse Spas Continues Strong Momentum With Double-Digit Growth in Q2

woodhouse-spas-q2-2025-growth-expansion

Layne's Chicken Fingers

Layne's Chicken Fingers-Mountain-State-Devo-June-2025

Layne’s Chicken Fingers Eyes Expansion in Mountain States

laynes-chicken-fingers-franchise-mountain-states-expansion

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

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

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

Wendy's CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down - Breaking News - 1851 Franchise

Wendy’s CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down Amid Challenges, Leaving Franchisees Facing Uncertainty

wendys-ceo-transition-kirk-tanner-franchisee-uncertainty

"Come in, We're OPEN" sign against abstract background

Small Business Optimism Dips, Raising Concerns for Franchise Owners

small-business-optimism-dips-raising-concerns-for-franchise-owners

Photo of Roof Scientist truck and trailer

Roof Scientist Expands Into Northern Indianapolis as Entrepreneur Dale Speckman Launches New Business in Fishers

roof-scientist-expands-into-northern-indianapolis

Image of Donald Trump pointing with red stripes in the background

August 1 Tariff Deadline Is Said to Have ‘No Extensions’: What This Could Mean for Franchises

august-1-tariff-deadline-franchise-impact

What June’s Jobs Report Means for the Franchise Industry

what-junes-jobs-report-means-for-the-franchise-industry

Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

From Corporate Careers to Community Roots: Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

kansas-couple-opens-childrens-lighthouse-gardner-olathe

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery 

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery in Overland Park, Kansas

paris-baguette-franchise-overland-park-khandelwal

Blending Tech, Hospitality and Health Care: How Three Women From Different Worlds Came Together to Build a Paris Baguette Franchise

paris-baguette-franchise-flower-mound-texas

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Local Businessman and Restaurant Owner Signs To Bring Paris Baguette to the Tampa Bay Area

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS