‘Mompreneur’ Duo to Bring Paris Baguette Franchise to Brooklyn

Susana Wu and Donna Wu have been best friends since they were 16. Now, alongside their business partner Ryan Zhao, they are embarking on a new chapter of their relationship as co-franchisees of Paris Baguette* in Brooklyn, New York. Susana, with her background in data analytics at Uber, and Donna, a seasoned customer service and home kitchen cabinetry design expert, teamed up with Zhao, a successful restaurant manager and investor, to step outside the conventional corporate structure and create something of their own as two moms looking to make their mark in the business world.

Their collective decision to franchise with Paris Baguette was driven by a shared love for the brand's products, a belief in its long-term potential and the opportunity to introduce a unique fusion of French and Asian bakery items to the Park Slope community, an area they felt was underserved in terms of such culinary offerings.

“Paris Baguette is very popular in Korea and they are so creative with the pastries and products,” said Donna. “But it is not the typical bakery you would find around a primarily caucasian neighborhood like Brooklyn. It's great we can introduce this concept to the community and make it more diverse.”

With plans to expand their venture by opening additional locations in the future, these “mompreneurs” are setting a new standard for what it means to pursue one's dreams against the odds, hoping to pave the way for more minority-owned businesses in their community.

1851 Franchise spoke with Susana and Donna to learn more about their backgrounds, their journey to franchising with Paris Baguette and their plans for the future. 

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Susana: Donna and I, along with Ryan, are partners in this venture. We reside in Staten Island, New York, but we all grew up in Brooklyn, the location of our Paris Baguette franchise. Prior to this, my career was in data analytics; I spent three years with Uber's data analytics team. The economic challenges brought on by COVID-19 prompted me to consider venturing beyond corporate America. I discussed this with Donna, my best friend since I was 16, and Ryan. Together, we explored what opportunities we could pursue. Donna possesses a strong entrepreneurial spirit, and Ryan, who manages eight restaurants but didn't have one in this area, was keen on expanding here.

Donna: I never worked in corporate America; my experience is more aligned with customer service. I spent several years working in a restaurant before transitioning to a completely different field — home kitchen cabinetry design. The onset of COVID-19, coinciding with both of us becoming mothers, reignited our interest in pursuing business ownership. We had always harbored the desire to own something of our own, but the opportunity never presented itself, relegating our aspirations to the back burner. This situation prompted us to consider our ambitions more seriously.

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?

Donna: We didn't have much experience in this area, but we felt that becoming franchisees would offer us a significant learning opportunity and a chance to gain valuable experience. Additionally, we have a strong affection for the brand.

Susana: Ryan has a lot of experience with restaurants, and he tells us that sometimes it's hit or miss. It's a lot of work to set it up from scratch and takes a lot of time, and you never know if it's going to work — the menu, the branding, the business model. A franchise is already proven.

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

Susana: We considered several franchises. It was important for us to genuinely appreciate the franchise before making an investment. After careful consideration, we narrowed it down to Paris Baguette. We are enthusiastic about the products, confident in their quality and believe in the brand’s long-term viability, especially in enduring challenges like COVID-19. We were looking for a franchise that could offer stability during uncertain times. We are particularly fond of the Park Slope neighborhood, which we frequently visit. Unlike the prevalent mom-and-pop and local shops, franchises are not as common in our area, so we wanted to bring something new. 

Donna: We believe in the Paris Baguette. This area is really lacking this kind of bakery and we think it can do very well here. 

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

Susana: We hope to open additional locations in the future. We want to be multi-unit owners. 

Donna: In Park Slope, the community may not be too familiar with Asian bakeries. Paris is very popular in Korea and they are so creative with the pastries and products. It is not the typical bakery you would find around a primarily caucasian neighborhood like Brooklyn. It's great we can introduce this concept to the community and make it more diverse. 

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Susana: Before all of this, we were stay-at-home moms. We are a minority-owned business — we are two Asian moms who want to break through the glass ceiling. That mission is very important to us.

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

Donna: There are so many unknown factors. It took us a while to find the perfect location, for example, and it was not as quick as we thought it would have been. You really have to be patient. The most important thing is to trust the process. 

The total investment to franchise with Paris Baguette ranges from $652,565 to $1,750,900, including a $50,000 franchise fee. For more information, please visit https://1851franchise.com/parisbaguette/info.

ABOUT PARIS BAGUETTE

Paris Baguette is a bakery café franchise with more than 4,000 units across the globe. The brand first started franchising in 2015 in the U.S. and has since established more than 125 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 parisbaguette.com/franchising/.