The French Workshop: Queens, N.Y.
The French Workshop is a gourmet French bakery known for its French cakes and pastries that first opened in 2015 in Astoria, N.Y.. The company has since expanded to three other locations on Long Island and began franchising this quarter, with plans to sell five franchise units over the next year.
The French Workshop is a Greek-founded business owned by Nick Pantelatos and Demetris Zorbas, the latter of whom is with the Zorbas Group, which operates a chain of bakeries and foodservice establishments in Cyprus.
Over the next five years, Pantelatos and Zorbas hope to reach 45 locations nationally, with eyes on the upstate New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Florida markets through both franchising and corporate expansion.
“Our kitchens – or workshops as we call them – are exposed, allowing guests to see the pastry chefs at work,” a representative from The French Workshop said. “Every detail, from product quality to the atmosphere, is carefully considered, creating a refined and transparent artisan bakery experience.”
The average check is $18 and average unit size is 3,800-5,000 square feet.