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For Jason Liu and Tommy Pee, franchising with&nbsp;<a href="https://ownaparisbaguette.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=these-paris-baguette-franchisees-were-drawn-by-their-longtime-connection-to-the-brand-2728885" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Paris Baguette*</a> wasn’t just a business decision — it was the culmination of years of personal connection to the brand. From family ties to workplace traditions,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/parisbaguette/info">Paris Baguette</a> had long been part of their lives, making the leap into franchising feel like a natural extension of their experiences.&nbsp;&nbsp;“My wife worked at the first Paris Baguette in Queens 15 years ago, so I’ve known about the brand for a long time,” Pee said. “When we worked in our corporate office, there was a Paris Baguette downstairs, and we always got their cakes for birthdays — especially the blueberry chiffon. It became a tradition.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Liu, who has always appreciated the quality of Chinese bakeries, saw something special in Paris Baguette. “Paris Baguette has a strong brand, a great selection of products, and a unique combination of Asian and Western influences,” he said. “As someone who has been to many Chinese bakeries, I can confidently say that Paris Baguette’s quality is far superior.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Though both Liu and Pee maintain corporate careers in finance, they saw franchising as a way to diversify their income while building something meaningful. “We wanted something beyond our corporate careers, and this franchise gives us the opportunity to build something tangible,” Liu said. Pee added, “Looking back, I don’t regret it. I’ve learned so much, and it’s incredibly rewarding to build something with our own resources and efforts.”Liu and Pee recently sat down with 1851 Franchise to talk about their personal connections to Paris Baguette, their franchising journey with the brand and their plans to eventually open more locations. Here’s what they had to say:1851 Franchise: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Jason Liu: Tommy and I both have corporate jobs in the finance industry. We don’t want to reveal too much about that due to the nature of our roles, but this is a part-time venture for us. Our partner,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackson-pan-a4b6a734a/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=these-paris-baguette-franchisees-were-drawn-by-their-longtime-connection-to-the-brand-2728885" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jackson [Pan]</a>, is full-time and will be the general manager on the ground every day.Tommy Pee: Jackson, my brother-in-law, had previous experience in the restaurant industry. He was a partner in a buffet restaurant that unfortunately closed during COVID. The three of us got together and saw franchising with Paris Baguette as a great way to diversify our time and create another source of income.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?Liu: Before we got into franchising, I thought it was a rigid corporate structure where you had little flexibility. But our experience with Paris Baguette has shown us that there is more room to make decisions than we expected. While corporate provides support, we still have the ability to make our own business choices.Pee: From a financial perspective, I saw franchising as a way to enter business ownership with a proven model. The biggest challenge in starting a business is creating a product, and franchising provides that for you. Yes, there are royalties, but they offset the risks and costs of building a brand from scratch. If the numbers make sense, it makes sense.1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Liu: Paris Baguette has a strong brand, a great selection of products, and a unique combination of Asian and Western influences. As someone who has been to many Chinese bakeries, I can confidently say that Paris Baguette’s quality is far superior.Pee: My wife worked at the first Paris Baguette in Queens 15 years ago, so I’ve known about the brand for a long time. When we worked in our corporate office, there was a Paris Baguette downstairs, and we always got their cakes for birthdays — especially the blueberry chiffon. It became a tradition. The brand has always been part of our lives, so when we thought about franchising, it felt like the right fit.1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?Pee: We plan to open more locations and diversify our portfolio further. We’ve even discussed opening another store in Madison, Wisconsin, where I went to college. We think it would do well, but for now, we are focused on making our first store a success.Liu: Growth is definitely part of our long-term plan, but we want to be strategic about it.1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?Liu: Just take the leap. The hardest part is making the decision and acting on it. If you wait too long, you’ll never do it.Pee: I’m usually a cautious person, so taking this step was a big deal. But looking back, I don’t regret it. I’ve learned so much, and it’s incredibly rewarding to build something with our own resources and efforts. If you’re considering franchising, just go for it — you’ll regret not doing it more than taking the risk.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 180 locations in markets across the country, 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=these-paris-baguette-franchisees-were-drawn-by-their-longtime-connection-to-the-brand-2728885" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://ownaparisbaguette.com/</a>.

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photos of Jason Liu & Tommy Pee and Paris Baguette logo

Paris Baguette Franchise: How Two Franchisees Turned Tradition Into Business

1851 Franchise

The neighborhood bakery café franchise has long been a part of the lives of Jason Liu and Tommy Pee. That’s why they’re opening their own Paris Baguette location in Holmdel, New Jersey, in April.

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