Jacksonville’s bakery landscape expanded in 2024 with the arrival of two Korean‑owned, French‑style chains. Paris Baguette opened a stand‑alone store in St. Johns Town Center in March, while Tous Les Jours launched a second location at Baymeadows Village in May after first debuting inside Lotte Plaza Market on Beach Boulevard.
Rapid expansion of Euro‑Asian bakeries
Both brands are moving quickly across North America. Tous Les Jours has set a goal of 1,000 U.S. stores by 2030, and Paris Baguette aims for roughly 900. Together they already operate about 500 locations nationwide, most on the West and Northeast coasts. Their Jacksonville openings bring that growth to Florida and give local shoppers a new alternative to the familiar Panera Bread model.
What the bakeries offer
Paris Baguette’s St. Johns Town Center site fits a typical strip‑mall format, with black‑and‑white bistro chairs and geometric tile. The layout includes ample parking and a spacious interior that appeals to remote workers. Signature items include glazed doughnuts priced around $5, a coffee‑bun that the reviewer found dry, and an extensive beverage menu. The bakery follows federal nutrition‑labeling rules that apply to chains with 20 or more locations.
Across town, Tous Les Jours presents a more subdued, earthy interior. Its pastries tend toward subtler flavors, but still feature Korean twists such as matcha and red‑bean fillings. Highlights noted by the reviewer include a pistachio‑enhanced chocolate spiral croissant and a tender coffee bun with a creamy center. Both bakeries rely heavily on pastry cream to add moisture and richness to their layered treats.
Local competition and a small‑scale alternative
Joining the two chains is Gaa Café, a modest Hong Kong‑inspired coffee shop opened by Kelly Lei in November. Located on Baymeadows Road, the pink‑walled café offers a limited menu of pastries, including fresh mochi balls that the reviewer preferred over the chain offerings. Lei acknowledges that her shop cannot compete with the scale of the multinational bakeries, but she emphasizes the simplicity and quality of her handcrafted items.
These new options give Jacksonville residents more choices for breakfast, snack breaks, and remote‑work cafés. The presence of French‑Korean bakeries also reflects a broader national trend of Asian‑owned food concepts blending European techniques with local tastes.
Looking ahead
With ambitious expansion plans, both Paris Baguette and Tous Les Jours are likely to open additional locations in Florida in the coming years. Their success will depend on how well they balance the classic French pastry tradition with Korean flavor influences and the American desire for a comfortable, “sit‑a‑spell” atmosphere. For now, Jacksonville diners can enjoy a wider array of buttery, sweet treats while supporting both global brands and a home‑grown café.
Original reporting: Jacksonville Today — read the source article.
