Paris Baguette hopes first branch in Hawaii a recipe for success

The recently opened Paris Baguette's Bishop Street branch, marking the brand's debut in Hawaii, USA. [SPC]

Paris Baguette, a Korean bakery chain operated by SPC Group, has opened its first outlet in Hawaii, U.S.

The Bishop Street branch, the 160th Paris Baguette store in the USA, offers seating for 43 patrons across 258 square meters (2,777 square feet). It is located on the first and third floors of the 1000 Bishop building in downtown Honolulu's Bishop Street, a hub for banks, business centers, and hotels, according to SPC on Monday.

Accentuating the Paris Baguette brand, the Bishop Street branch features distinct blue-tiled accents and bright wooden elements. It also has a ground floor terrace with 40 seats, allowing guests to soak in the atmosphere of Honolulu.

"As a renowned tourist destination, Hawaii serves as a strategic market for enhancing our global brand recognition and image," a SPC official said. "We plan to expand further into prominent tourist and commercial areas in Hawaii, including Ala Moana and Pearl City."

SPC Group, which opened its inaugural foreign outlet in China in 2004, currently operates over 550 stores across 10 countries, spanning the U.S., France, Britain, Canada, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]