Walk into any Paris Baguette and you’re transported, the owners hope, to what feels like a French streetside. You’re hit with the scent of fresh-baked bread, the crunch of crispy baguettes, the allure of brewing coffee, croissant doughnuts and slices of rainbow cake.
Paris Baguette boasts massive windows to give it the vibe of an open-air cafe, and through those windows you’ll see customers stacking pastries on trays to be purchased, and rows of baked goods in different stages of the preparation line.
Based in Moonachie, Paris Baguette has made a name for itself selling cakes, whole and sliced bread, gourmet sandwiches, salads and packaged roll cakes. There are also seasonal beverages for sale, as well as hot and cold tea or coffee.
And the company continues to expand, opening more New Jersey locations.
Story continues below photo gallery
The stores have developed something of a cult following by customers, at least according to feedback from our readers. The company has really taken off since emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I feel like I’m in Europe — the fresh croissants, the baked goods, the pastries,” said George Georgiades of Mahwah, as he perused a Paris Baguette store in Montvale last year. “Growing up in New York City, it makes me feel nostalgic, like I’m with my family, my immigrant friends and relatives.”
Paris Baguette executives have said it is backfilling a void that was left when other bakery-cafes left the space, creating the huge demand.
Coffee-bakery chain primed for growth
Paris Baguette has 19 New Jersey locations, according to its website, most of them in the north or central part of the state.
There are plans for an additional 21 bakery-cafes in the near future, said Nick Scaccio, the chain’s chief operating officer. Many of them will be in South Jersey, “which will be new to us,” Scaccio said.
Three new locations will open in the first quarter of 2025:
“Any way for us to make it as easy as possible to reach out to audience, we’re apt to lean into those various opportunities,” Scaccio said. “That’s always the top priority; to make it as convenient as possible for guests.”
Restaurant Business reported that Paris Baguette saw over $353 million of sales in 2023, up 38.5% from 2022.
Why are coffee spots so popular
Coffee houses trace back to the 17th century in the Ottoman Empire, where patrons could grab an affordable cup of coffee and “gather, socialize and share ideas,” according to History.com.
“Anyone could come in and order a cup,” the site says.
The atmosphere is “intimate and cozy” and can “foster relaxation and social interaction,” reads a blog post by Vince Chapey, a senior associate with the Atlanta-based Matthews Real Estate Investment Services.
“With limited square footage, these establishments can focus on creating a warm ambiance, utilizing comfortable seating arrangements, and incorporating aesthetically pleasing de?cor,” Chapey wrote.
(This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.)
Daniel Munoz covers business, consumer affairs, labor and the economy for NorthJersey.com and The Record.
Email: [email protected]; Twitter:@danielmunoz100 and Facebook