For Ayesha and Arif Nazir, a family trip to New York or Chicago wasn't complete without a Paris Baguette* run, often walking 40,000 steps just to find the nearest location. They were more than customers; they were enthusiastic fans who saw a pastry-shaped hole in the Kentucky market. And like the best pastries and cakes, it’s not always about the number of ingredients you use to make a masterpiece, but about using the right ones.
To bring the first Paris Baguette to the Bluegrass State, it took a very specific blend of professional expertise from Ayesha and Arif, along with their close friends Mahwish Ijaz and Nawaz Ahmed. Together, these two couples are introducing the global brand to Louisville by combining Arif’s human-centered health care focus, Ayesha’s corporate finance depth, Mahwish’s restaurant grit and Nawaz’s entrepreneurial experience. More than building a bakery, they are creating a cultural hub designed to mentor the next generation of culinary talent and show that when the right partners fold their talents together, the result is bound to rise.
Ayesha, Mahwish, Arif, and Nawaz sat down with 1851 Franchise to discuss what led them to the bakery-cafe concept and why they are focused on building a culture of mentorship in the first location to hit Kentucky. Here’s what they had to say:
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?
Ayesha Nazir: Our story started as fans of the brand. My family would travel to Chicago or New York and walk 40,000 steps just to find a Paris Baguette. But the real story is about bringing that level of artistry home.
Arif Nazir: I call our journey into this the "Five Stages of Excitement." It began years ago with Denial, where we’d visit Paris Baguette locations across the country as fans, never thinking we could do this ourselves. That shifted into Acceptance, realizing we wanted to create a legacy for our families, followed by an Epiphany: our Louisville home was in need of this concept. Now, we’ve moved through Excitement and into Execution. It’s a decade’s worth of being fans, and now we’re bringing it to our community.
Mahwish Ijaz: Like Arif said, we realized Louisville needs this hub of culture and we wanted to create a space where we could empower young culinary talent who have the passion but haven't found the right kitchen yet.
1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Ayesha: Our partnership is built on our differing careers. Arif is a physician and geriatrician, I am a senior finance director in the corporate insurance world, Mahwish is our restaurant operations expert with an MBA and years of industry experience and Nawaz is a seasoned entrepreneur who has spent 15 years building successful businesses from the ground up.
Mahwish: We chose franchising, and Paris Baguette specifically, because the model is built on consistency and quality. It’s allowed us to combine our personal talents and experiences with a proven system.
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?
Arif: I think people perceive franchises as being a bit rigid, but my perspective has completely flipped. In health care, you can't succeed without a dedicated team, and I see franchising the same way. We’ve treated our hiring process like a residency program, focusing on passion and attitude. Franchising gives you the framework, but it’s the local owners and team who make it a community spot.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Mahwish: Paris Baguette is hip, it’s high-vibe and it fills a gap in Louisville. It’s been exciting seeing the reaction from the community. We've had incredible applicants who are eager to pivot their careers just to be a part of this culture. There is a clear hunger in Kentucky for this level of hospitality and artistry.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Nawaz Ahmed: On the business side, we want a model that is as consistent as it is profitable. But beyond the numbers, we want to be a mentor hub. We’re working toward an internship program with Sullivan University’s culinary students. We want to be the place where Louisville’s next great bakers get their start.
1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?
Ayesha: This is a true partnership of friends. We’ve spent the last few months debating every detail, from millwork to kitchen flow, to make sure we get it right.
Arif: We are building a culture where the term "employee" doesn't exist. To us, you are either a team member or family. We’ve even started hosting "family" game nights for our team. We want our team to feel the same passion for the brand that we felt as customers all those years ago.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Nawaz: Look beyond the brand name and look at the foundation. You have to be willing to learn the business, be dedicated to it and translate that passion to your team. And you have to be in alignment with your partners.
ABOUT PARIS BAGUETTE:
With a projected 1,000 bakery cafés in North America by 2030, Paris Baguette is on a mission to reestablish the neighborhood bakery café as the heart of the community. Paris Baguette serves craveable baked and brewed treats and creates warm and welcoming experiences through a blend of gracious service, expert craftsmanship and community connections. From decisions made behind a desk to smiles offered behind a counter, the desire to spread joy and make the world a happier place drives everything we do. Being a neighborhood bakery café means caring about those around us and finding ways to make a real impact. We do so through our "Love Baked In" programs that bring to life our commitment to serving local communities through various charitable programs and initiatives. Paris Baguette is a leader in the hospitality industry with its commitment to creating unique consumer experiences and a network of successful franchisee relationships. For information and to find the Paris Baguette location closest to you, please visit www.parisbaguette.com.
Franchisee Stories
After a decade of seeking out Paris Baguette during trips to New York and Chicago, these four friends are turning their obsession into a mission to build Louisville’s next great mentorship hub.
For Ayesha and Arif Nazir, a family trip to New York or Chicago wasn't complete without a Paris Baguette* run, often walking 40,000 steps just to find the nearest location. They were more than customers; they were enthusiastic fans who saw a pastry-shaped hole in the Kentucky market. And like the best pastries and cakes, it’s not always about the number of ingredients you use to make a masterpiece, but about using the right ones.
To bring the first Paris Baguette to the Bluegrass State, it took a very specific blend of professional expertise from Ayesha and Arif, along with their close friends Mahwish Ijaz and Nawaz Ahmed. Together, these two couples are introducing the global brand to Louisville by combining Arif’s human-centered health care focus, Ayesha’s corporate finance depth, Mahwish’s restaurant grit and Nawaz’s entrepreneurial experience. More than building a bakery, they are creating a cultural hub designed to mentor the next generation of culinary talent and show that when the right partners fold their talents together, the result is bound to rise.
Ayesha, Mahwish, Arif, and Nawaz sat down with 1851 Franchise to discuss what led them to the bakery-cafe concept and why they are focused on building a culture of mentorship in the first location to hit Kentucky. Here’s what they had to say:
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?
Ayesha Nazir: Our story started as fans of the brand. My family would travel to Chicago or New York and walk 40,000 steps just to find a Paris Baguette. But the real story is about bringing that level of artistry home.
Arif Nazir: I call our journey into this the "Five Stages of Excitement." It began years ago with Denial, where we’d visit Paris Baguette locations across the country as fans, never thinking we could do this ourselves. That shifted into Acceptance, realizing we wanted to create a legacy for our families, followed by an Epiphany: our Louisville home was in need of this concept. Now, we’ve moved through Excitement and into Execution. It’s a decade’s worth of being fans, and now we’re bringing it to our community.
Mahwish Ijaz: Like Arif said, we realized Louisville needs this hub of culture and we wanted to create a space where we could empower young culinary talent who have the passion but haven't found the right kitchen yet.
1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Ayesha: Our partnership is built on our differing careers. Arif is a physician and geriatrician, I am a senior finance director in the corporate insurance world, Mahwish is our restaurant operations expert with an MBA and years of industry experience and Nawaz is a seasoned entrepreneur who has spent 15 years building successful businesses from the ground up.
Mahwish: We chose franchising, and Paris Baguette specifically, because the model is built on consistency and quality. It’s allowed us to combine our personal talents and experiences with a proven system.
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?
Arif: I think people perceive franchises as being a bit rigid, but my perspective has completely flipped. In health care, you can't succeed without a dedicated team, and I see franchising the same way. We’ve treated our hiring process like a residency program, focusing on passion and attitude. Franchising gives you the framework, but it’s the local owners and team who make it a community spot.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Mahwish: Paris Baguette is hip, it’s high-vibe and it fills a gap in Louisville. It’s been exciting seeing the reaction from the community. We've had incredible applicants who are eager to pivot their careers just to be a part of this culture. There is a clear hunger in Kentucky for this level of hospitality and artistry.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Nawaz Ahmed: On the business side, we want a model that is as consistent as it is profitable. But beyond the numbers, we want to be a mentor hub. We’re working toward an internship program with Sullivan University’s culinary students. We want to be the place where Louisville’s next great bakers get their start.
1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?
Ayesha: This is a true partnership of friends. We’ve spent the last few months debating every detail, from millwork to kitchen flow, to make sure we get it right.
Arif: We are building a culture where the term "employee" doesn't exist. To us, you are either a team member or family. We’ve even started hosting "family" game nights for our team. We want our team to feel the same passion for the brand that we felt as customers all those years ago.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Nawaz: Look beyond the brand name and look at the foundation. You have to be willing to learn the business, be dedicated to it and translate that passion to your team. And you have to be in alignment with your partners.
ABOUT PARIS BAGUETTE:
With a projected 1,000 bakery cafés in North America by 2030, Paris Baguette is on a mission to reestablish the neighborhood bakery café as the heart of the community. Paris Baguette serves craveable baked and brewed treats and creates warm and welcoming experiences through a blend of gracious service, expert craftsmanship and community connections. From decisions made behind a desk to smiles offered behind a counter, the desire to spread joy and make the world a happier place drives everything we do. Being a neighborhood bakery café means caring about those around us and finding ways to make a real impact. We do so through our "Love Baked In" programs that bring to life our commitment to serving local communities through various charitable programs and initiatives. Paris Baguette is a leader in the hospitality industry with its commitment to creating unique consumer experiences and a network of successful franchisee relationships. For information and to find the Paris Baguette location closest to you, please visit www.parisbaguette.com.
Sign up for the 1851 Franchise newsletter to get our biggest stories before everyone else
By signing up, you agree to our user agreement (including class action waiver and arbitration provisions), and acknowledge our privacy policy.
