Meta: A Canadian city will become home to the first North American location for the rapidly growing Paris-based bakery and sweets retailer.
Paris-based bakery and sweets maker L’Éclair de Génie will open its first North American retail location early next year at 1210 Robson Street in downtown Vancouver. It could be the first of multiple locations, as the French bakery chain is quickly expanding internationally.
Founded in 2012 by British pastry chef Christophe Adam, L’Éclair de Génie is known for its wide variety of éclairs and sweet treats. Flavours of the bakery’s signature éclair include caramel salted butter, lemon yuzu, raspberry vanilla, passion fruit cream, and various seasonal offerings. The shop also sells an assortment of candies, caramels, jams, and spreads to complement their éclair offerings.
The majority of L’Éclair de Génie shops are located in France, and the company has also expanded into Italy, China, and Japan. Two new shops, in Milan, Italy and Moscow, Russia, are also set to open next year.
L’Éclair de Génie shop interiors are minimalist. Guests are greeted by a large yellow counter that displays the colourful and delicious array of éclairs. Each éclair is a piece of art, accented with vibrant colours and carefully crafted toppings. The price for each éclair averages around five euros – which converts to nearly seven Canadian dollars. Guests are encouraged to stay in the shop to enjoy their pastry, along with a selection of espresso and tea beverages.
French pastry shops in Canada have been seeing a huge resurgence over the past few years. Toronto-based Nadège Patisserie has recently opened a fourth location at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre, after opening three successful locations in central Toronto.
French luxury bakery and sweets maker Ladurée has also expanded into the Canadian market, with a Vancouver location just up the street from L’Éclair de Génie on Robson Street.
Mario Negris and George Richmond of CBRE in Vancouver negotiated the deal on behalf of the landlord. The shop, located at 1210 Robson Street, has an anticipated opening date of spring of 2017.
Canadian Retail News From Around The Web: December 7, 2016
