BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The Paris Baguette franchise is making its way to the streets of downtown Bethlehem in early 2025, bringing a special blend of Paris-inspired treats and coffee.
Lan Ma, a longtime resident of Lehigh Valley, is leading the venture. She aims to provide her community a new destination for flavorful sweets and a cozy setting.
Lan Ma moved from China to the USA 32 years ago, settling in the Lehigh Valley in 2014. There, she gained extensive experience in several businesses, including her current position at IBM, where she has worked for 25 years.
“I’m somebody that you can call a serial-like entrepreneur,” said Ma. “I’ve had experience starting and managing a retail business and a real estate business.”
As a single mother of four, Ma’s love for Paris Baguette emerged during her visits to the Edison, New Jersey cafe with her children, inspiring her to open her location in Bethlehem.
“The aroma of coffee and hot chocolate gave us such a happy experience every time we went,” said Ma. “I just felt a light bulb come on, ‘What if we have that kind of place just here in the Lehigh Valley?’ It will be absolutely wonderful.”
Ma’s family journey is as remarkable as her entrepreneurial one. “I raised my two older kids as a single parent after their dad (after 11 years of marriage) left before my daughter was even born. I raised them alone until they were almost adults,” Ma shared on a local blog.
When she reached her 50s, Ma decided to expand her family. “Then, I CHOSE, when I was 50, to have more children, on my own, without marriage nor partner.
Thanks to IVF technology, I was able to make embryos from donor eggs and sperm and gave births (via C-Sections) to two healthy, full-term babies when I was 51 and 53,” she explained.
Her new Paris Baguette location holds deep significance as it is tied to the happy memories she created with her children.
“I want to contribute to this newly found community and really bring that piece of joy and happiness to the Lehigh Valley,” said Ma. “I want to bring a bakery that captures the happy memories from my children’s childhood.”
The bakery will be in a prime location downtown, near the historic Hotel Bethlehem, where the old BOYD movie theatre used to stand.
Ma aspires for Paris Baguette to be a go-to spot for locals and tourists to enjoy premium coffee, freshly baked croissants, and cakes in a comfortable setting.
The menu will include a variety of baked goods, including pastries, cakes, croissants, breads, and more.
Ma has been working on this project since January, as her franchise rights were granted in March 2024. Since then, she has been involved in the permitting, construction, and hiring processes.
While Ma wants to stay on top of her business, she is aiming to hire a team that will manage the day-to-day operations so she can continue in her position at IBM.
Ma hopes the Paris Baguette franchise will be a space for families to gather and enjoy their time.
“We really want to be part of this very vibrant community that we call home,” said Ma.
