After Falling in Love with Paris Baguette, This North Carolina Couple Decided To Open One of Their Own

Steve and Mia Kim’s journey to franchising began not with spreadsheets or profit margins, but with pastries. After spending seven years teaching English in Korea, the couple became regulars at Paris Baguette*, a bakery-café chain that was seemingly on every corner. The products  and the brand itself left a lasting impression, one that followed them back to the United States.

“We’ve known about Paris Baguette for a long time. I grew up in Los Angeles, so I was familiar with the name. But from 2014 to 2021, Mia and I taught English in Korea, and that’s when we really got to know the brand well,” Steve said. “We loved the quality, consistency, and variety. It was like Starbucks in Korea — everywhere you went, there was a Paris Baguette. We wanted to understand what made it so popular, and those three things really stood out to us.”

That admiration led them to open the first Paris Baguette location in Charlotte, North Carolina, just minutes from their home. The Kims see their store as more than a business venture — it’s a way to serve their neighbors something they personally enjoy and believe in. “We were fans first,” Steve said. “We genuinely love the product. I personally love the cakes — the quality, texture, and taste are amazing.”

Located at 9826 Sandy Rock Place, Ste. A, in South Charlotte, the Kims’ Paris Baguette is on track to open on May 22. Their neighborhood bakery café is nestled in a walkable mixed-use development with homes, retail and a park right next door — a setting that reflects their focus on community and family. “We walk our dog there, and it’s the kind of place where you can grab a cup of coffee and a pastry and sit in the park with a blanket,” Steve said. “We love it, and we think other people will enjoy that too.”

1851 Franchise spoke with the Kims about their franchising journey with Paris Baguette, their love of the brand and their plans to connect with the South Charlotte community where they live. Here’s what they had to say:

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

Steve Kim: We’ve known about Paris Baguette for a long time. I grew up in Los Angeles, so I was familiar with the name. But from 2014 to 2021, Mia and I taught English in Korea, and that’s when we really got to know the brand well. We loved the quality, consistency, and variety. It was like Starbucks in Korea — everywhere you went, there was a Paris Baguette. We wanted to understand what made it so popular, and those three things really stood out to us.

When we moved back to the States, we were looking for something we could do together. We naturally gravitated toward Paris Baguette. There was an opportunity in Charlotte, and we jumped on it.

Mia Kim: We traveled a lot and compared European and Asian bakeries. I thought Paris Baguette’s offerings were strong enough to compete with the best of them. I read about how the founder was a pastry chef with a real passion for baking, and I respected that. That’s one of the reasons I was drawn to the brand.

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

Steve: Before we moved to Korea, I was in commercial real estate, so I understood retail from the real estate side. After we came back, we bought a Bruster’s Ice Cream franchise — that was something I always wanted to do. We still own and enjoy that business.

What really shifted my mindset was a health issue — I lost my hearing. I’ve always had ringing in my ears, and one day I woke up and it had gotten a lot worse. I was diagnosed with sudden hearing loss, and they couldn’t pinpoint a cause. It may have been stress or genetics.

After that, my perspective changed. I wanted to do things I genuinely enjoy, not just things that make money. That’s what led us to ice cream and now to 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?

Steve: I always thought people got into franchising for consistency. That’s what I saw as the biggest strength — being able to provide a reliable, quality product. That’s been true with both Bruster’s and Paris Baguette. There’s a real commitment to quality and consistency, and the R&D side is impressive. They’re always developing new products and updating the menu. It’s not just the same thing over and over — they’re trying to stay ahead and offer variety.

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

Steve: We genuinely love the product. I personally love the cakes — the quality, texture, and taste are amazing. The pastries and the variety are exciting. We got into this not from a business perspective initially, but as guests. We were fans first.

Mia: We liked the product first. That’s how we got interested in the business.

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

Steve: Right now, we want to run this store well. It’s the first Paris Baguette in Charlotte, and we want to represent the brand the right way. We live in the neighborhood — just three minutes away. Our kids go to school here. Their friends and their families will be coming to the store. So we want to make sure we’re doing it right, serving our neighbors with quality and consistency.

At this point, we’re not thinking about multiple locations. We’re focused on doing this one really well and seeing what happens from there.

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

Steve: We’re located next to a small park in a mixed-use development with townhomes and retail. It’s a really nice, walkable area. We walk our dog there, and it’s the kind of place where you can grab a cup of coffee and a pastry and sit in the park with a blanket. We love it, and we think other people will enjoy that too.

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

Steve: Find something you’re passionate about — not just what’s most profitable. Money matters, of course, but if you don’t believe in what you’re selling, it’s going to be hard to make it work. With both Bruster’s and Paris Baguette, I genuinely love the product. I eat it with my family and friends. I recommend it because I believe in it. If you feel that way about what you’re selling, I think the business will follow.

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/.