moving to and opening a french patisserie in Charlotte? (Raleigh: selling a house, buying)

[melkat]

come open up your business in Lake Norman..we are in dire need of a really good bakery with good cakes and pasteries...I generally go to mooresville to La Patisserie to get our bakery items (they are actually colombian though, not french) I know a place in Denver closed down over a year ago and people really miss it ( I had never been)

[CRock]

As the previous posters said take a look at Raleigh and Charlotte. I have been to Raleigh a few times, but lived in Charlotte 27+ years. Charlotte is a "happening" place and I dont think you could go wrong. To me Raleigh just does not have the same vibe. While in town check out Nova Bakery, while not a Patissere, It was started from scratch by Bosnian immigrants and has a huge following and have been very successful. They are located in Plaza-Midwood.

Good Luck!!!

[Mr.Sippi]

i live a short walk from there and have never been. must put that on my to do list. thanks.

Originally Posted by CRock

While in town check out Nova Bakery, while not a Patissere, It was started from scratch by Bosnian immigrants and has a huge following and have been very successful. They are located in Plaza-Midwood.

Good Luck!!!

[winston2000]

Originally Posted by Mr.Sippi

i live a short walk from there and have never been. must put that on my to do list. thanks.

Try the olive bread

Oh yeah-and WELCOME BACK!

[Mr.Sippi]

????
uumm oh yeah...thanks

Originally Posted by winston2000

WELCOME BACK!

[Adream]

Originally Posted by KThomas

Anyhoo...our plan, if we move to CHarlotte or Raleigh, is to buy a home, and to open a little French Patisserie/Boulangerie/Cafe. My DH of course is the French pastry chef.We are a young couple (late 20's) and are trying to be smart with our money. thx!

KThomas - my husband and I will be taking a trip to NC this fall. We'll start at Raleigh, work our way toward Charlotte, then onto Asheville to see Biltmore.
Your description of your future "little French Patisserie/Boulangerie/Cafe" is EXACTLY the kind of place I'll be looking for to help decide where we'll move to. A town with the lovely sensibility of English pubs & French Cafes (in other words, a European touch) is where I would love to live on this side of the pond.
KThomas - please keep us posted here when you decide where you'll be moving too. Who knows - we may end up in the same place around the same time, and I'll be one of your best customers! In the meantime, enjoy living in the South of France...*sigh* Best of luck to you with your future plans!

Anigirli - your information was fantastic!! A big thanks from me for posting that - I'm printing and adding to our travel file!

[cwatts]

I live in DC but grew up in NC. My good friend is the pastry chef at the White House. He loves it, but also wants to relocate South to open his own shop. I would say your best bet for opening a french bakery would be Asheville or Charlotte. Asheville already has a great number of small independently owned pastery shops but this is something the city thrives on. Charlotte is also a great up and coming area where your business would do well!

[Anigirli]

Adream - - It is my pleasure to help New Charlotteans as much as possible. I am not a realtor(nor solicitating business) just a savvy 20-something girl that is always in tune with the cultural zeitgeist. Over the years I noticed that many people have gotten tired of the chain stores products and want something more special and precious. It is why these niche businesses have a strong following because they offer a unique product not offered by the big boys, represent something(a point of view), and offer an intangible cool factor that people respond to. The louche eleganceof the continentals sitting nonchalantly while sipping their Café au lait in a Parisienne cafe is always something that is lovely to behold and wish it could be translated here.

Kthomas -- I think I forgot to recommend SouthEnd, with it's many art galleries, restaurants and new swanky condos/townhomes mushrooming in the area it could also be a nice fit for your business.
http://www.historicsouthend.com/index.asp (broken link)

And finally here is also a list of sites of the neighborhoods we have discussed in this thread. It is a great way to get a good idea of what the area is like since they are so unique.
http://www.plazamidwood.org/
http://www.noda.org/
http://www.dilworthcharlotte.com/
http://www.idilworth.org/
http://www.eastoverresidentsassociation.com
http://www.elizabethcommunity.com/
http://www.charlottechamber.com/
Good luck!

[kmway]

Originally Posted by cwatts

I live in DC but grew up in NC. My good friend is the pastry chef at the White House. He loves it, but also wants to relocate South to open his own shop. I would say your best bet for opening a french bakery would be Asheville or Charlotte. Asheville already has a great number of small independently owned pastery shops but this is something the city thrives on. Charlotte is also a great up and coming area where your business would do well!

I agree, but y'all discount Raleigh a lot. Of course I'd rather see it here but Raleigh has a lot of nice high-end specialty stores. There's a lot of money up there and a lot of well travelled, educated people. She should visit both areas and see what fits her best. Hopefully it will be Charlotte!

[Adream]

Originally Posted by Anigirli

Adream - - It is my pleasure to help New Charlotteans as much as possible. I am not a realtor(nor solicitating business) just a savvy 20-something girl that is always in tune with the cultural zeitgeist. Over the years I noticed that many people have gotten tired of the chain stores products and want something more special and precious. It is why these niche businesses have a strong following because they offer a unique product not offered by the big boys, represent something(a point of view), and offer an intangible cool factor that people respond to. The louche eleganceof the continentals sitting nonchalantly while sipping their Café au lait in a Parisienne cafe is always something that is lovely to behold and wish it could be translated here.

Anigirli, when I find that here in the U.S. - I'll know I've found "home." *sigh*

BTW - you are a wonderful writer! If you aren't doing if for a living yet, you should seriously consider it!