International bakery chain Paris Baguette is set to open next spring in downtown Evanston at 804 Davis St.
Restaurant Clarke’s Off Campus occupied the space until winter 2023.
Based in South Korea, Paris Baguette sells French- and Korean-inspired pastries, cakes and drinks. Menu items include blueberry yogurt cakes, ham and cheese pastries and kkwabaegi, a twisted, sugar-dusted donut popular in South Korea.
The chain has over 4,000 locations around the world and more than 180 in North America. Building owner Daniel Kelch said he visited one in Glenview and another in Chicago before choosing Paris Baguette for the Davis St. property.
He said he thinks the stores’ signature blue tiles and open seating make for an appealing brand.
“To me, they kind of carry an energy,” Kelch said. “It’s a French-themed look. The way they present their products, I think, is attractive and a little bit interactive.”
Paris Baguette’s novelty comes from its Asian influence, Kelch said. He said when he first opened restaurants in Evanston over three decades ago, there were only two or three places serving Asian cuisine. Now, he said, there are too many to count.
Rather than ordering at the counter, customers pick up a tray and tongs upon entering. They then browse rows of displayed baked goods and select items at their own pace. Afterward, they can take food to-go in boxes or dine in-store.
Communication sophomore Maya Palacios said she visited Paris Baguette locations near her home in Los Angeles. She said she enjoys perusing breads in display cases.
“For a lot of Asian bakeries, it’s less of a transactional thing,” Palacios said. “You’re allowed to take your time, and you don’t feel pressure to decide. It’s kind of nice to be able to admire all of them and be like, ‘Oh my God, they look so delicious.’”
She said she recommends the strawberry croissant or any bread with sweet cream filling. Paris Baguette offers buns filled with chocolate, custard and red bean among other choices.
But Palacios said she and some of her friends felt conflicted over shopping at the new location due to the company’s past controversy.
A Paris Baguette factory employee in South Korea died in October 2022 after a mixing machine crushed her. Many South Koreans then boycotted the bakery and its parent company, SPC Group. Palacios said she learned about the boycott from a friend.
Kelch operates other Downtown Evanston restaurants like LuLu’s and Taco Diablo. He said inflation and high labor costs undermine full-service restaurants.
As a result, Kelch said more tenants open quick-service businesses, which require fewer employees and less space. Cafes, he said, only need about 1,200 square feet and pay less rent than restaurants, which require thousands of square feet.
In particular, he said the relatively low cost of coffee production makes it a popular business venture. With many cafes and bakeries in the area, he said people can choose which ones they prefer.
Barbara Ganan and Harriet Simon said they have lived in Evanston for over 50 years. Of the available bakery options, they said they often visit Bennison’s Bakery but are open to trying new ones.
“The more, the better,” Simon said. “Evanston is a diverse community. A lot of different people like to try a lot of different new things.”
Ganan said she likes bakeries that are involved with the community. For instance, she said Bennison’s Bakery sold cookies with the 2024 presidential candidates’ faces on Election Day.
According to Kelch, the new location’s franchisee and architect submitted build-out plans to the city last week. These plans outline the envisioned layout and necessary renovations. Construction can begin after city approval, which Kelch said could take several months.
“The more activity we have on the street will attract people beyond our downtown residents and Northwestern students,” Kelch said. “People will come from neighboring suburbs to experience places that have a lot to offer.”
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