Ever wonder what it would be like to set at a French café while enjoying a cup of coffee and a crepe? Well, the opportunity to try this notion out might not require a travel agent and a vacation request come next year.
Why you may ask?
Because Fort Worth has been picked as one of two cities that will be home to one of four Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café’s. This ultra-popular restaurant brand specializing in sweet and savory crêpes, hot drinks and more, announced a new signed agreement that will bring three locations to the Phoenix area and one location right here in Cowtown, according to a release.
This multi-unit deal was made possible by an agreement with Strategic Partners and Nothing Bundt Cakes franchise owners John and Sue Gilbert. With this agreement in place, Sweet Paris is set to open one store per year starting in 2024 and ending in 2027.
Jason Risner
The idea behind this crepe-style franchise concept began after the Gilbert’s experienced immense success with their first franchise the aforementioned Nothing Bundt Cakes, which the couple started a decade ago. Wanting to keep this momentum going, the Gilberts kept a look out for a new concept they could use to grow and add to their ownership portfolio. After a visit to the Sweet Paris College Station location, the Gilberts instantly fell in love with the concept, the quality of the menu offerings, the service, and the one-of-a-kind atmosphere.
“Sweet Paris Creperie & Café checked all the boxes for us," the Gilbert's stated in a release. "Worldly cuisine, incredible service, beautiful decor and ambiance. “It was very important to us to find an ownership and corporate management team that was a good match for us, and after meeting the Sweet Paris team during our Observation Day, we instantly meshed. You couldn't ask for a more friendly, positive, knowledgeable, and supportive team that is willing to do whatever it takes to help their franchisees succeed. We are eager to get started with the brand and share delicious crepes with the Phoenix and Fort Worth communities.”
Currently, Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café boasts 14 stores in operation, with locations in Austin, College Station, Houston, and San Antonio, Texas, Doral and Coral Gables, Florida and in Mexico.
Jason Risner
The success of Sweet Paris has not gone unnoticed, either. Just this last year, the brand was ranked on Entrepreneur Magazine’s 2022 Top New and Emerging Franchises in addition to the Franchise 500 list. Also, co-founders Allison and Ivan Chavez landed on Global Franchise Magazine’s 10 Emerging Leaders to Watch in 2022. To top this off, Allison was included in Nation’s Restaurant News’ annual Power List, an exclusive group of 50 leaders who are identified as the most innovative and inspiring people in the restaurant industry.
“The territories that will be developed by the Gilbert’s are truly premium markets,” says Allison Chavez, co-founder of Sweet Paris. “The south Fort Worth area will undoubtedly become a high performing Sweet Paris location in the near future and the Phoenix area has impressive potential as it boasts some of the best performing fast casual restaurant concepts in the country. Sweet Paris’ unique concept and cuisine will certainly occupy an untapped segment of the Phoenix market and will consolidate the brand’s growth across the Southwest.”
