Paris Baguette

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&nbsp;<a href="https://ownaparisbaguette.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=paris-baguette-franchise-charlotte-nc-2729339" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Paris Baguette</a>, a bakery-café chain that was seemingly on every corner. The products&nbsp; and the brand itself left a lasting impression, one that followed them back to the United States.“We’ve known about&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/parisbaguette/info">Paris Baguette</a> 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&amp;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:&nbsp;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&nbsp;<a href="https://ownaparisbaguette.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=paris-baguette-franchise-charlotte-nc-2729339" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://ownaparisbaguette.com/</a>.

1851 Franchisee Spotlight graphic with photo of Steve & Mia Kim & Paris Baguette logo

Paris Baguette Opens in Charlotte, North Carolina | Steve and Mia Kim’s Story

1851 Franchise

Steve and Mia Kim discovered Paris Baguette overseas. Now they’re bringing the bakery café to their South Charlotte community to serve neighbors, friends and family.

This brand page has been paid for by PARIS BAGUETTE. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

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

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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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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.

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

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