BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Paris Baguette, the South Korean-owned, French-inspired bakery chain, officially opened its doors today at 32 W. Broad St. in downtown Bethlehem, bringing a new array of fresh pastries and beverages to the Lehigh Valley area.
The bakery, operated by longtime Lehigh Valley resident Lan Ma, welcomed its first customers at 6 a.m., with bakers arriving at 2 a.m. to prepare the day’s selections from scratch.
“I want to contribute to this newly found community and really bring that piece of joy and happiness to the Lehigh Valley,” said Ma, who has worked at IBM for 25 years and describes herself as a “serial-like entrepreneur” with experience in retail and real estate businesses.
Ma, who moved from China to the United States 32 years ago and settled in the Lehigh Valley in 2010, has been planning this opening for over a year.
Her love for Paris Baguette developed during visits to the chain’s Edison, New Jersey location with her four children.
The new establishment features a self-service concept. Customers use trays and tongs to select from dozens of pastry options, including tarts, croissants, and cakes.
Savory selections include smoked sausage bread, pepperoni pizzettas, and crab meat croquettes. Loaves of bread are also available for purchase.
The beverage menu features Lavazza brand coffee, available hot or cold, with alternative milk options such as almond and oat milk. Customers can also choose from iced tea, hot tea, frappes, and smoothies.
The spotless interior boasts appealing displays and high-quality finishes. A large mural depicting the Lehigh Valley and Bethlehem Steel adorns one of the back walls.
The space offers ample seating, including bench seating positioned along large glass windows at the front of the store.
Glass partitions allow customers to see the bakers and staff at work, offering transparency into the operation.
Prices are competitive, with many items comparable to or less expensive than similar offerings at chains like Starbucks. Hot coffee starts at $2.49, and basic iced black coffee at $3.49.
The bakery is located on the ground floor of the new Dream BOYD apartment building, where the old BOYD movie theater once stood.
Store hours are from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week.
“We really want to be part of this very vibrant community that we call home,” said Ma, who envisions the bakery as a welcoming space where families and neighbors can gather to create happy memories together.
