State College, Pa. — Downtown State College will get a taste of France this spring when a popular Parisian bakery opens this spring.
Paris Bakery & Cafe is tentatively set to open by the end of April at 122 W. College Ave. The bakery recently celebrated its second anniversary at its flagship location in Lewisburg.
“It’s much bigger,” said owner Mario Mabrouk of the State College location. “I would think square footage-wise, it’s five times bigger than the Lewisburg one.”
The building on West College Avenue once was a bank, and more recently was a burger restaurant. That restaurant closed a few years ago and the building has been vacant since 2024. Mabrouk said they have been renovating the space to transform it into a bakery.
Artisan pastries, savory bites, and more
The bakery will sell many of the same artisan pastries as the Lewisburg store, including croissants, tarts, cakes, and macarons. The menu will be expanded to also offer savory items, sandwiches, toast, brunch, and breakfast offerings. The larger kitchen space will allow the bakery to sell more cakes, including larger ones customers can take home for occasions. Several gluten-free and sugar-free items also be will part of the confections menu.
All items will be fresh-made daily. Similar to the Lewisburg location, the State College bakery will accommodate special cake orders. Mabrouk said the cake orders have kept the Lewisburg bakery busy even in the summer months, with 77 wedding cakes made last summer.
Beverages offered at Paris Bakery & Cafe will be similar to the current menu at Lewisburg. This will include hot and cold teas, coffee, and European beverages such as Orangina.
One unique item that will be part of the State College location is Neapolitan pizza. Mabrouk said he is having a wood-fired oven installed at the shop and a chef is coming over from Italy next month to run that station.
“We don’t have anything at all in this area like this pizza,” Mabrouk said. “The closest place currently offering it is 100 miles from here.”
The State College location also will be decorated similarly to the Lewisburg location, with pink decor, floral walls, and a bigger display, Mabrouk said.
The interior of Paris Bakery & Cafe in State College will be similiar to the Lewisburg. Lots of pink and floral walls.
With a larger seating area, the State College bakery will be able to serve as a venue for events. Customers had asked about having events at the Lewisburg location such as baby showers, but there’s not enough space there, according to Mabrouk.
The space also will be large enough for Paris Bakery & Cafe to have a small gift shop, which will be located in the former bank vault. Mabrouk plans to eventually sell branded items, including mugs, T-shirts, and hats. “But we’re currently focused on renovating it for the bakery,” Mabrouk said.
The support of the university community has been key so far with the success of Mabrouk’s business. The Lewisburg location is located close to Bucknell University and has a large customer base including students and local residents. The State College location will be a prime spot across the street from the Penn State University campus.
“We’re trying to attract students, too, since Penn State has 45,000 students on campus,” Mabrouk said.
French influence
Mabrouk, who lives in Lewisburg, previously worked in the IT field prior to opening a bakery. Originally from Tunisia, Mabrouk said due to the north African country’s close proximity to France, much of its foods is influenced by French cuisine.
Mabrouk got the idea several years ago to open a French-influenced bakery through his friendship with the bakery’s main chef. The chef had been baking for 25 years and had previously worked in Paris.
Running a French bakery means many of the ingredients are imported from France. Mabrouk feels these quality ingredients help to set the bakery apart.
“Part of the success of the bakery is the ingredients, which are imported from France and include the butter, chocolate, and some of the yeast,” Mabrouk said.
Mabrouk said for the State College store, he plans to hire around 15 to 20 staff members. Hours for the new location will be similar to Lewisburg’s, although some days State College may stay open later to accommodate the late night crowd.
Additional information can be found on Paris Bakery & Cafe Facebook page and Instagram.