When Anusha Jonnala teamed up with longtime friend Swapna Varala and a third partner to open a Paris Baguette franchise in Flower Mound, Texas, it wasn’t just a business venture — it was the merging of three distinct career paths into a shared dream. With backgrounds in software, health care, and hospitality, the trio brought together a rare mix of skills: tech-savvy strategy, people-first leadership, and deep operational knowledge of the restaurant world. What united them was a mutual desire to build something meaningful — a welcoming, community-driven café that reflects their values of quality, service, and connection.
That vision made Paris Baguette the ideal fit. The brand’s commitment to craftsmanship and European-style café culture resonated deeply with the group, who saw franchising not as a rigid playbook, but as a platform for creativity and purpose. Now, with their first location underway, the three partners are already planning thoughtful expansion — and even hope to mentor other women and minority entrepreneurs. “We’re proud to be women business owners,” Jonnala said. “Our different backgrounds are our biggest strength, and that’s what makes this journey so powerful.”
1851 Franchise spoke with the team to learn about the team’s unique professional backgrounds, their vision for their Flower Mound café, and their plans for growth. Here’s what they had to say.
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?
We are three women from very different industries — software, health care, and hospitality — who came together with a shared passion for community, quality service, and entrepreneurship. Each of us brings something unique: deep operational experience from the restaurant world, strategic thinking, and innovation from tech and people-first values from health care. Despite our different paths, we were all driven by a common goal — to create a welcoming space where people can gather, enjoy exceptional food, and feel a sense of connection. Paris Baguette felt like the perfect place to bring that vision to life.
1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Before franchising, we each had successful careers in our respective fields. One of us ran multiple restaurants and built a strong reputation in hospitality. Another worked in health care administration, focusing on patient-centered care and leadership. The third built a career in the software industry, managing large-scale tech projects and driving digital transformation.
We realized that franchising gave us a framework to combine our strengths with the support of an established brand. It offered a balance between structure and creativity — and allowed us to build something meaningful without starting completely from scratch.
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?
Initially, we viewed franchising as somewhat rigid or limiting — just following a playbook. But once we got into it, we realized there’s much more room for creativity and ownership than we thought. A good franchise gives you a proven system but also values your unique input and ideas. We’ve found that franchising, especially with a brand like Paris Baguette, is about partnership and shared success. It’s an incredible opportunity for those who want to be in business for themselves — but not by themselves.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Paris Baguette immediately stood out to us because of its commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and experience. The menu, the ambiance, the attention to detail — it all felt aligned with the kind of business we wanted to create.
What excites us most is the brand’s ability to bring a European café culture into everyday life, with food that feels both special and approachable. We also appreciate the company’s support system and their focus on community and hospitality, which matches our values perfectly.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Our goal is to build more than just a café — we want to create a neighborhood hub where people come for coffee, connection, and comfort. We see this as the first of several locations, with a focus on thoughtful expansion and deep community roots.
Long term, we’d love to mentor other women and minority entrepreneurs who want to enter franchising. It’s important to us to create success and then help others do the same.
1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?
We are proud to be women business owners, and even prouder to be partners who support, challenge, and uplift one another. Our different backgrounds are our biggest strength — we’re constantly learning from each other, and that energy flows into how we run our business.
We also want to honor the communities we serve. Every decision we make — from hiring to events to menu features—is centered around creating a space people feel proud to support.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Know your “why” and choose a brand that aligns with your values. Franchising isn’t just about investing in a business — it’s about becoming part of a larger mission.
Also, don’t be afraid to bring your full self to the table. Your past experience — even if it’s not in food or retail — is valuable. The most successful franchises are the ones where owners bring heart, hustle, and a clear vision. Build a strong team, trust your instincts, and lean into the support the franchise offers. You don’t have to do it alone.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://ownaparisbaguette.com or https://1851franchise.com/parisbaguette.
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 225 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/.
Paris Baguette
SPONSORED
Anusha Jonnala her partners combined their diverse professional backgrounds to open a Paris Baguette café rooted in community and hospitality in Flower Mound, Texas.
When Anusha Jonnala teamed up with longtime friend Swapna Varala and a third partner to open a Paris Baguette franchise in Flower Mound, Texas, it wasn’t just a business venture — it was the merging of three distinct career paths into a shared dream. With backgrounds in software, health care, and hospitality, the trio brought together a rare mix of skills: tech-savvy strategy, people-first leadership, and deep operational knowledge of the restaurant world. What united them was a mutual desire to build something meaningful — a welcoming, community-driven café that reflects their values of quality, service, and connection.
That vision made Paris Baguette the ideal fit. The brand’s commitment to craftsmanship and European-style café culture resonated deeply with the group, who saw franchising not as a rigid playbook, but as a platform for creativity and purpose. Now, with their first location underway, the three partners are already planning thoughtful expansion — and even hope to mentor other women and minority entrepreneurs. “We’re proud to be women business owners,” Jonnala said. “Our different backgrounds are our biggest strength, and that’s what makes this journey so powerful.”
1851 Franchise spoke with the team to learn about the team’s unique professional backgrounds, their vision for their Flower Mound café, and their plans for growth. Here’s what they had to say.
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?
We are three women from very different industries — software, health care, and hospitality — who came together with a shared passion for community, quality service, and entrepreneurship. Each of us brings something unique: deep operational experience from the restaurant world, strategic thinking, and innovation from tech and people-first values from health care. Despite our different paths, we were all driven by a common goal — to create a welcoming space where people can gather, enjoy exceptional food, and feel a sense of connection. Paris Baguette felt like the perfect place to bring that vision to life.
1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Before franchising, we each had successful careers in our respective fields. One of us ran multiple restaurants and built a strong reputation in hospitality. Another worked in health care administration, focusing on patient-centered care and leadership. The third built a career in the software industry, managing large-scale tech projects and driving digital transformation.
We realized that franchising gave us a framework to combine our strengths with the support of an established brand. It offered a balance between structure and creativity — and allowed us to build something meaningful without starting completely from scratch.
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?
Initially, we viewed franchising as somewhat rigid or limiting — just following a playbook. But once we got into it, we realized there’s much more room for creativity and ownership than we thought. A good franchise gives you a proven system but also values your unique input and ideas. We’ve found that franchising, especially with a brand like Paris Baguette, is about partnership and shared success. It’s an incredible opportunity for those who want to be in business for themselves — but not by themselves.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Paris Baguette immediately stood out to us because of its commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and experience. The menu, the ambiance, the attention to detail — it all felt aligned with the kind of business we wanted to create.
What excites us most is the brand’s ability to bring a European café culture into everyday life, with food that feels both special and approachable. We also appreciate the company’s support system and their focus on community and hospitality, which matches our values perfectly.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Our goal is to build more than just a café — we want to create a neighborhood hub where people come for coffee, connection, and comfort. We see this as the first of several locations, with a focus on thoughtful expansion and deep community roots.
Long term, we’d love to mentor other women and minority entrepreneurs who want to enter franchising. It’s important to us to create success and then help others do the same.
1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?
We are proud to be women business owners, and even prouder to be partners who support, challenge, and uplift one another. Our different backgrounds are our biggest strength — we’re constantly learning from each other, and that energy flows into how we run our business.
We also want to honor the communities we serve. Every decision we make — from hiring to events to menu features—is centered around creating a space people feel proud to support.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Know your “why” and choose a brand that aligns with your values. Franchising isn’t just about investing in a business — it’s about becoming part of a larger mission.
Also, don’t be afraid to bring your full self to the table. Your past experience — even if it’s not in food or retail — is valuable. The most successful franchises are the ones where owners bring heart, hustle, and a clear vision. Build a strong team, trust your instincts, and lean into the support the franchise offers. You don’t have to do it alone.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://ownaparisbaguette.com or https://1851franchise.com/parisbaguette.
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 225 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/.
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