Euna Lee grew up in Vienna, Va. and graduated from James Madison High School.
Coming this fall, central Springfield will have another option for a morning snack when “Paris Baguette,” opens in the shopping plaza on Bland Street. Their menu has bagels, muffins, coffee, cookies and more, for a quick stop before jumping on I-95.
Franchise owner Euna Lee had a career going as a 15-year software consultant, but decided to open her own business after a conversation with her father. She was bored of doing the same thing every day in the computer world so she needed a change. “I was ready for something different,” Lee said. Lee had visited another Paris Baguette while living in London and it grew to be a favorite of hers. She has all summer to prepare.
A warm glow inside
So far, she’s navigating the business applications needed in Fairfax County, and is waiting for “bids from contractors,” she said. After that, she’s planning a four-month construction period before opening in early fall. Lee grew up in Vienna, Va. so she is somewhat familiar with the central Springfield area. “I will look at opportunities to connect with the community,” she said.
On the Menu
Paris Baguette specializes in bakery items, cakes, breads, gourmet sandwiches and salads. On the drink menu, there's hot coffee, tea, frozen drinks and seasonal beverages with whipped toppings.
Their mission is to "bring expertly crafted baked and brewed goods to our guests through a warm and welcoming bakery café experience that delivers joy to everyone." They are big on the sense of community. "The desire to make the world a happier place drives everything we do," their saying goes.
In central Springfield there is a wide variety of food available for every sort of pallet so it is not going to be easy for a newcomer. There's seafood, Mexican and chicken a block to the north, Vietnamese pho soup to the east, a new Baskin-Robbins ice cream to the west and across Backlick Road is sushi, kabobs, frozen yogurt, sub sandwiches, Dunkin’ Donuts and smoothies. A little something for everyone, including Paper Moon, a locally famous “gentleman’s club,” that has sandwiches and scantily clad dancers. There are two Starbucks a few miles away too but it doesn’t worry her. “We are focused on baked goods,” she said.
This summer she will weigh the options and hone her business plan so she will hit the ground running in late September when they open.
Paris Baguette is a bakery café franchise with more than 4,000 units across the globe. The global brand first franchised in the U.S. in 2015 and has since established over 160 locations in markets across the country. Locally there are Paris Baguette locations in McLean, Fairfax and Herndon.