5 things to know about the bakery opening in State College’s former BRGR restaurant

Paris Bakery & Café, a French bakery with roots in Lewisburg, is opening a second location at 122 W. College Ave. in State College. Owner Mario Mabrouk says the larger space will allow for “10 times more” offerings than the original shop.

FULL STORY: A new bakery will bring French pastries, more to downtown State College

Here’s what you should know as the bakery prepares to open in State College:

• The bakery will move into the former home of BRGR, a now-defunct Pittsburgh burger chain. It could open as soon as late April or May if current timelines hold.

• The larger space provides room for new menu additions, including Neapolitan-style pizzas cooked in a wood-fired oven. Mabrouk said he’s bringing a chef from Italy to oversee the pizza-making process.

• The property once operated as a bank, and Paris Bakery & Café plans to convert the old vault into a gift shop selling French goods, coffee grounds, bags, drinkware and more.

• Mabrouk expects to hire between 15 and 20 employees, and the State College location will feature pink decor, neon signs and custom-made counters designed by an outside firm.

• The bakery launched in early 2024 with a soft opening that drew hundreds to downtown Lewisburg. A former IT manager hailing from Tunisia, Mabrouk said he planned an expansion in State College after seeing his bakery consistently attract customers from Centre County.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story linked at the top of this article was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.