Paris Baguette

Mike Issa and Moe Touffaha fell in love with Paris Baguette when they visited a New York location years ago. However, when they inquired about franchising in the Midwest, the brand was not looking to expand in that region. Four years later, that changed. Issa and Touffaha opened two incredibly successful Paris Baguette cafés in Wichita, Kansas and Birmingham, Michigan.&nbsp;Now, the duo is working to add a second location in Wichita and expand in Kansas City.“Since opening the first location, we have gotten to know the process and operations very well,” Issa explained. “We’re very familiar with the brand, and our P&amp;L looks good. People in our community also love our location, the brand and the pastries. That encouraged us to move forward with more locations.”1851:&nbsp;What did you do before franchising?Mike Issa:&nbsp; We have been in franchising for 17 years. We first got into franchising with IHOP and opened our first location in 2004. We are also currently looking into a Popeyes franchise. Before joining the IHOP franchise, I started and ran my own shipping and freight company called&nbsp;Handle With Care Packaging Store out of Wichita, Kansas.Moe and I got into franchising to be a part of a larger company that has a proven built-in support system. But it was also important that we were allowed to own the business while following the franchise’s standard operating procedure.&nbsp;1851: How long from the first time you learned about franchising until you inquired on the franchisor’s website?Issa:&nbsp;I was interested four years ago, but unfortunately, Paris Baguette was not interested in expanding into Kansas at the time. When the brand decided to expand, a corporate member reached out, and I immediately jumped on the opportunity.1851: How did you perform your research/due diligence?Issa:&nbsp;We stopped by several locations in New York as customers and really liked the concept. We also liked the food and instantly wanted to bring this neighborhood bakery to Kansas. As part of our decision to become Paris Baguette franchisees, we spoke to a few franchisees and were able to see their success and their passion to serve freshly delicious pastries, cakes, breads and brewed drinks.&nbsp;1851: How many brands did you look at?&nbsp;Issa:&nbsp;I was only interested in Paris Baguette.1851: What made you say “yes” to&nbsp;Paris Baguette?&nbsp;Issa:&nbsp;Paris Baguette has a unique concept in that they offer a wide variety of freshly baked goods daily—everything from pastries, cakes, croissants, breads and fresh-brewed drinks, which I first experienced as a customer. Once I learned more about the brand and its franchise model, I thought it would be a great fit in the Kansas and Michigan markets since there is nothing quite like it in the area.I also really liked that Paris Baguette’s model targets markets that are seemingly untouched and in need of a brand such as this. Paris Baguette is focused on bringing a neighborhood feel to communities, so residents can come together in a friendly and welcoming environment. Once I saw the brand’s values, I knew I wanted to replicate that in the Kansas and Michigan communities.1851: What could have scared you away?&nbsp;Issa:&nbsp;Nothing could have scared me away because I have extensive experience in franchising restaurant concepts and have been passionate about the Paris Baguette brand since I was first introduced to the concept as a customer.1851: What makes you stand out as a unique business owner in the local community?Issa:&nbsp;I have extensive experience in both the franchising and restaurant industry, so I know exactly how to open a business such as this. I have experience in staffing, accounting, human resources and setting up great benefits for my employees. My plan is to become integrated into the local community in each market I expand in. I would like to do charitable work through my businesses as well. I currently donate to Children’s Miracle Network and am passionate about using my businesses to help others.&nbsp;1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? Plans for growth?&nbsp;Issa:&nbsp;We hope to achieve the same success with Paris Baguette as my other franchise locations. We opened our first location in Birmingham, Michigan, in February 2022 and were overwhelmed by how the community responded. We were flooded with guests, and the feedback was incredibly positive.&nbsp;I am extremely happy that we were able to serve the community and get the chance to interact with our guests.&nbsp;We plan to open the first Paris Baguette in Wichita, Kansas, this July. That location is going to be incredible with its 3,000 square foot space and a patio with a transparent fireplace. I also plan to open a location in Overland Park, Kansas, in June of 2023.1851: What do you do in your personal time?Issa:&nbsp;Any free time I have, I’m spending it with my family. My wife and I are passionate about fitness so we spend a good amount of time at the gym.&nbsp;1851: What is the one thing about your story that you want us to know?Issa:&nbsp;I’ve really enjoyed working in the restaurant industry since opening my first IHOP location in 2004. Through hard work and dedication, we now own 12 IHOP locations, eight of which have been built from the ground up. I’m extremely excited to find success with a new franchise that’s offering a new concept to Kansas and Michigan.The total investment to franchise with Paris Baguette ranges from $652,565 to $1,750,900, including a $50,000 franchise fee.&nbsp;To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/parisbaguette/info?utm_source=1851franchise.com&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=former-stay-at-home-mom-embraces-entrepreneurial-dreams-with-paris-baguette-in-st-louis-2723047">https://1851franchise.com/parisbaguette/info</a>&nbsp;<h3 style="margin-left:0px !important;">ABOUT PARIS BAGUETTE</h3>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 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 guests and help guests share moments of joy with their friends and family by providing world-class cakes, pastries, coffees, breads and other French-inspired bakery café fare. To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit<a href="https://ownaparisbaguette.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&amp%3Butm_medium=article&amp%3Butm_campaign=former-stay-at-home-mom-embraces-entrepreneurial-dreams-with-paris-baguette-in-st-louis-2723047&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=doubling-down-paris-baguette-franchisees-expand-in-kansas-double-unit-count-2723292" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">&nbsp;ownaparisbaguette.com.</a>

Doubling Down: Paris Baguette Franchisees Expand in Kansas, Double Unit Count

1851 Franchise

Mike Issa and Moe Touffaha pursued business ownership with Paris Baguette after a positive experience franchising with IHOP. Now, the pair is expanding with Paris Baguette.


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The Recipe for Success: A Step-By-Step Guide to Opening a Paris Baguette Franchise

Paris Baguette to Attend Multi-Unit Franchising Conference 2026 Following Record-Breaking Year of Expansion

Paris Baguette Hits Record 77 Café Openings in 2025, Prepares for 400th North American Location

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image of jeff han and hyunjung han of paris baguette in Henrico County Virginia

Local Wholesale Veteran to Open Henrico County’s First Paris Baguette Franchise Cafés in Three-Unit Deal

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image of Chris Shin and Kim Shin owners of paris baguette in Coral Springs Florida

Broward County Couple Brings Paris Baguette Home to South Florida Community

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Second-Generation Restaurateur Habib Hashimi Partners With Family To Bring 11 Paris Baguette Franchise Locations to South Florida

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image of sweta goyal, puneet mittal, mamta singhal, rajneesh signhal from paris baguette from texas

How Two Dallas Couples Turned Coffee Runs Into a Five-Store Paris Baguette Deal

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<a href="http://ownaparisbaguette.com">Paris Baguette</a>, the bakery café franchise brand with more than 4,000 units, is continuing their growth in Georgia with a new Atlanta-area café projected to open this July. Located at 4119 Lake Street in Alpharetta, the café will serve a wide variety of freshly baked breads and pastries, handcrafted beverages, and expertly made and decorated cakes. The Alpharetta café will be the second for franchisee Layne Alkaasamani, a pastry chef turned business owner who was drawn to&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/parisbaguette/info">Paris Baguette</a> because of their culture.“What made it stand out for me was the culture. I really like the corner bakery feeling,” Alkaasamani told&nbsp;<a href="https://whatnow.com/atlanta/restaurants/paris-baguette-bringing-new-location-to-alpharetta-this-summer/">WhatNowAtlanta</a>. “It’s such a well-made franchise. We still have baked goods every morning. Even though it’s a franchise, it doesn’t have a franchise feel. We always try to give you that feeling of just a small corner bakery in your community.”As she continues to grow with the brand and bring the neighborhood bakery café experience to her community, Alkaasamani hopes to open two to three additional Georgia cafés.Read the full article&nbsp;<a href="https://whatnow.com/atlanta/restaurants/paris-baguette-bringing-new-location-to-alpharetta-this-summer/">here</a>.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://ownaparisbaguette.com">https://ownaparisbaguette.com</a> or&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/parisbaguette.">https://1851franchise.com/parisbaguette.</a>&nbsp;

Photo of interior of Paris Baguette bakery cafe

The global bakery café franchise, which currently has nine cafés in Georgia, plans to open another in the Atlanta area with Layne Alkaasamani, who also operates the Kennesaw café.

WhatNowAtlanta: Paris Baguette Bringing New Location to Alpharetta This Summer

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MOONACHIE, N.J.&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="https://ownaparisbaguette.com/">Paris Baguette</a>, a top-ranked global bakery café franchise and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/directory/paris-baguette/335793">#1 bakery café in the 2026 Entrepreneur Franchise 500®</a>, continued its strong growth trajectory in the first quarter of 2026, building momentum across the US and Canada through new openings, accelerated development activity and sustained guest demand.The brand has achieved six consecutive years of positive comparable sales and traffic growth, underscoring sustained guest demand and long-term system strength. In the first quarter of 2026, Paris Baguette delivered 31.21% year-over-year total sales growth, reinforcing strong systemwide performance.With more than 300 cafés operating across 29+ states and approximately 600 in active development, Paris Baguette is advancing toward and beyond its goal of 1,000 North American locations. Further demonstrating the strength of its model, the brand reports average unit volumes exceeding $3 million across its cafés (according to the brand’s 2026 FDD).This strong foundation is driving continued development momentum, including a 20% year-over-year increase in café openings and a 33% increase in lease signings compared to Q1 2025.Growth during the first quarter included the opening of a new Canadian café at Hillcrest Mall in Ontario, entry into Minnesota with its Hudson Road location and expansion into Jacksonville, Florida, where Paris Baguette received strong community responses in each new market. The brand also signed agreements supporting significant expansion across South Florida and Texas, while introducing Paris Baguette to Arkansas.Supporting its long-term growth strategy, Paris Baguette also broke ground on its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.crbgroup.com/news/je-dunn-construction-crb-break-ground-on-first-paris-baguette-manufacturing-facility-in-u-s?utm_source=chatgpt.com">first North American manufacturing facility in Burleson, Texas</a>, a strategic investment designed to enhance operational efficiency and support the brand’s expanding footprint.The brand’s momentum continues to earn national recognition, including a No. 29 ranking on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500?type=multisearch&amp;data1=randomize:false,rankId:f500&amp;sort=f500&amp;sortMethod=global&amp;globalLimit=25">Entrepreneur’s 2026 Franchise 500®</a>, a No. 1 ranking in the bakery café category, and inclusion on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prweb.com/releases/paris-baguette-ranked-no-112-in-2025-technomic-top-500-chain-restaurants-report-climbing-over-20-spots-from-prior-year-302548964.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com">Technomic Top 500 Chain Restaurants Report</a> and 2026 Fast Casual Movers and Shakers ranking.“Our early growth in 2026 reflects both the strength of the Paris Baguette model and the continued demand for the neighborhood bakery café experience,” said CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/darren-tipton-0526324">Darren Tipton</a>. “We’re seeing strong momentum across new and existing markets, and we believe that positions us well for continued expansion throughout the year.”Looking ahead, Paris Baguette is continuing to scale globally while expanding its North American footprint, including development efforts in Mexico and targeted growth across Canada, with a focus on Québec, Ottawa, Montreal, British Columbia and Winnipeg. The brand expects to open more than 100 additional cafés in 2026, including its first drive-thru location, while entering 10 new markets.“We’ve kicked off 2026 with strong performance and recognition, and we’re not slowing down,” Tipton added. “We remain focused on delivering for our guests, supporting our franchisees and growing thoughtfully in the communities we serve.”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 300 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&nbsp;<a href="https://ownaparisbaguette.com/">https://ownaparisbaguette.com/</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The bakery café franchise continued their growth in Q1, driving development activity, expanding to new markets, and surpassing six consecutive years of positive comparable sales and traffic growth.

Paris Baguette Builds Q1 2026 Momentum With Year Over Year Growth, and Continued Expansion Across North America

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PHILADELPHIA&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="http://ownaparisbaguette.com">Paris Baguette</a> is celebrating a dual milestone in their North American expansion journey with the opening of their 300th U.S. café, which also serves as their first-ever U.S. airport café. Now open in Terminal C at the Philadelphia International Airport, the landmark café represents a defining moment in&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/parisbaguette/info">Paris Baguette</a>’s strategy to bring the neighborhood bakery café experience to high-traffic, nontraditional venues.&nbsp;The 300th U.S. café opening follows a year of incredible growth in which the brand opened 77 new cafés and awarded another 300 agreements for future development. Currently, Paris Baguette has over 600 total cafés in various stages of development, and momentum is only building, keeping them firmly on track to reach 1,000 U.S. cafés by 2030.“The opening of our 300th U.S. café at the Philadelphia International Airport is a testament to the incredible scalability and appeal of the Paris Baguette brand,” said CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/darren-tipton-0526324/">Darren Tipton</a>. “Expanding our footprint is exciting, but this is also a strategic milestone. By entering the airport space, we’re proving that the high-quality, artisan bakery experience can thrive in diverse environments, opening the door to serve a high volume of global travelers and entering a new phase of growth that includes expansion in nontraditional hubs.”The Philadelphia International Airport café will be operated by&nbsp;<a href="https://onsiteretailers.com/">Onsite Retailers</a>, the airport concessions company owned by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/terri-roberts-0b8931179/">Terri</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandy-roberts-87a35730/">Sandy Roberts</a>. The couple brings extensive experience to the opening, with a portfolio that includes more than 90 units across over 10 airports in multiple categories.“We’re honored to be a part of this milestone with Paris Baguette, and we know it will be a valuable addition to the Philadelphia International Airport ecosystem. We’ve seen an explosion in culture surrounding bakeries,” Terri said. “Americans are moving away from packaged sweets and looking for real, artisan creations like the ones Paris Baguette is known for. Our goal has always been to bring the high-quality café experience into the airport, and Paris Baguette is the perfect fit for that vision.”According to Sandy, the brand’s existing recognition is another reason the concept makes sense for an airport setting.“We are very excited about the brand and believe their strong reputation will be appealing to the traveling public,” he said. “This is a brand guests already know and have experience with, and we are looking forward to bringing Paris Baguette to the Philadelphia International Airport.”As Paris Baguette continues their incredible national growth, the Philadelphia International Airport location will serve as a foundation for future travel hub developments, supporting an important shift beyond the traditional retail model and positioning Paris Baguette more firmly as a beloved global brand bringing warmth and joy in an entirely new context.ABOUT PARIS BAGUETTEParis 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 300 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&nbsp;<a href="https://ownaparisbaguette.com/.">https://ownaparisbaguette.com/.</a>&nbsp;

Photo of Philadelphia International Airport Paris Baguette bakery café

In addition to the 300-café milestone, the PHL café also represents Paris Baguette’s first-ever U.S. airport café and another key step on their path to 1,000 U.S. cafés by 2030.

Paris Baguette Celebrates Major U.S. Milestone with 300th Café Opening at Philadelphia International Airport

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In a recent episode of the&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/paris-baguette-and-the-road-to-1-000-restaurants-with/id1448762355?i=1000750526071">“QSR Uncut” podcast</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://ownaparisbaguette.com">Paris Baguette</a> Chief Development Officer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-scaccio-83728422">Nick Scaccio</a> sat down with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannyklein14/">Danny Klein</a> to discuss the rapid growth the bakery café franchise has experienced across North America. When Scaccio joined the brand in 2020, there were 73 cafés in the U.S. Now, there are more than 290 cafés across the country with hundreds more in development.Scaccio attributes much of this momentum to&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/parisbaguette/info">Paris Baguette’s</a> unique brand identity that prioritizes the highest quality across a range of freshly-made breads and pastries, fresh sandwiches and salads, handcrafted beverages, and both cake slices and whole cakes. With such diversity in the menu, Paris Baguette is relevant across all dayparts, from morning pastries and coffee to lunchtime grab-and-go items.Over the last few years, Paris Baguette has seen incredible growth, defying industry trends of stalled growth. Scaccio pointed to a people-first philosophy as the primary driver of this growth, emphasizing the importance of a strong partnership between the corporate team and local operators.“How genuine someone is about loving the brand is critical,” Scaccio said on the podcast. “So we talk openly about the menu, what they've tried, which franchise owners they've contacted, and how the conversations went. We meet in person, when and where possible … And then, if there are other businesses, we'll tour and spend time and even meet some members of their team. I think all of that is critical before entering an extremely long-term relationship. We take that very seriously, and we appreciate that our franchise owners do, too.”Looking ahead, Paris Baguette is showing no signs of slowing down. With a goal of reaching 1,000 U.S. units by 2030, Scaccio says he expects to have that number fully accounted for between open cafés and awarded development deals by the end of the quarter. As the franchise continues to reestablish the neighborhood bakery café as the heart of communities across the country, they’re proving a focus on hospitality and execution remains key to success in competitive markets.Listen to the full podcast&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/paris-baguette-and-the-road-to-1-000-restaurants-with/id1448762355?i=1000750526071">here</a>.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://ownaparisbaguette.com">https://ownaparisbaguette.com</a> or&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/parisbaguette.">https://1851franchise.com/parisbaguette.</a>&nbsp;

Photo of Paris Baguette CDO Nick Scaccio, Road to 1,000 Restaurants

As the bakery café franchise continues along a rapid growth trajectory, their people-first values and versatile, all-day menu are fueling steady success. 

QSR Uncut: Paris Baguette and the Road to 1,000 Restaurants, With CDO Nick Scaccio

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MOONACHIE, N.J.&nbsp;— Following a year of remarkable growth in 2025, including 77 new cafés opened and nearly 300 more awarded,&nbsp;<a href="https://ownaparisbaguette.com/">Paris Baguette</a>, the global franchise with over 290 cafés across the U.S., will attend the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.multiunitfranchisingconference.com/">Multi-Unit Franchising Conference</a> March 24-27. As they continue to grow,&nbsp;<a href="http://1851franchise.com/parisbaguette/info">Paris Baguette</a> has remained committed to upholding the highest standards throughout the system, from initial franchisee onboarding to the in-café guest experience. MUFC represents another key opportunity for the brand to continue this growth and collaboration.“As a growing brand, it’s essential that we remain connected throughout our system and with other leaders in the industry,” said CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/darren-tipton-0526324">Darren Tipton</a>. “MUFC gives us an opportunity to continue building on our momentum, nurture collaboration both among our teams and with the broader multi-unit community, and highlight Paris Baguette as a leader in the industry and a prime opportunity for skilled multi-unit owners looking to grow their portfolios.”Over the course of the conference, Paris Baguette owners and leadership will have opportunities to hear from experts, gain new perspectives and weigh in on key topics for multi-unit franchisees. Topics include the guest experience, the meaning of value and service for today’s employees and consumers, financing for growth, and operations and profitability strategies.For Paris Baguette, which has emphasized franchisee engagement, support, and alignment as they grow, these conversations, workshops, and networking opportunities are another way to support healthy, long-term growth.“The people behind Paris Baguette are what make us who we are,” Tipton said. “Continuing to emphasize that personal aspect and leaning into a franchise-first model that recognizes the value of a clear, cohesive culture and a supported, satisfied franchisee base will be a key factor in our ongoing success.”In addition to strategic alignment across multiple levels of the Paris Baguette franchise system, Paris Baguette will also be hosting a booth at #2125 and #2123 to showcase their model, growth opportunities for prospective franchise owners, and hand out free samples.&nbsp;With strong momentum across North America and a format built for growth, Paris Baguette continues to stand out for entrepreneurs seeking a bakery café brand with both scale and neighborhood appeal.The Paris Baguette team will be available to discuss their industry-leading support, elevated café design, and growth opportunities across the country.For more information, visit the Paris Baguette team at Booth&nbsp;#2125 and #2123 or email kkeith@parisbaguette.com to schedule a meeting.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 290 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&nbsp;<a href="https://ownaparisbaguette.com/.">https://ownaparisbaguette.com/.</a>&nbsp;

image of paris baguette attending mufc 2026

After opening 77 cafés and awarding nearly 300 more in 2025, the global bakery café franchise will connect with high-growth multi-unit owners and drive innovation and alignment throughout the system.

Doubling Down: Paris Baguette Franchisees Expand in Kansas, Double Unit Count

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