Cafe Francais, a locally-owned French bakery, is opening a second location at 3855 E. Broadway Blvd. in midtown. The tentative grand opening date is set for August 7. Launched in 2019 on Tucson’s east side at 7831 E. Wrightstown Rd., Cafe Francais built a loyal following for its scratch-made croissants and pastries. This new Broadway grab-and-go shop marks the bakery’s first expansion.
Tiny shop with full menu and ample parking
By contrast to the original Wrightstown Road cafe, which offers indoor seating and made-to-order espresso drinks, the Broadway Boulevard location has no indoor seating. Only a few patio tables will be available outside, emphasizing a quick takeout experience. Additionally, beverage service will be limited to pre-bottled drinks instead of brewed coffee or espresso.
Despite the smaller footprint, customers can expect the full Cafe Francais menu at the new spot, including all weekly pastry specials and regular items.
“She’s tiny, but mighty,” said Cafe Francais owner-baker Noelle Jamison.
She also noted parking should not be an issue with ample parking space behind the building, easing concerns about the busy Broadway and Alvernon area.
Community support fuels expansion
Co-owners Noelle and Daniel Martinez credit an extraordinary act of generosity for making the new location possible. For years, Greg, Jennifer and Natalie Furrier were quiet regulars at the eastside bakery, supporting the business from the sidelines. The Furrier family eventually offered to help the business secure the Broadway storefront.
“Without the help of the Furriers, none of this would have ever happened,” Noelle said of the family’s support. She added that such kindness “has to be one in a billion” for a small bakery like theirs, calling the offer “a true blessing” that arrived just as they feared their dream might stall. The owners were moved to tears by the belief the Furriers showed in their six-year-old venture.
‘Making them proud’
Every step of this journey carries deep emotional resonance for the Cafe Francais team. “Every day I wake up blown away by our reality — by the dream slowly becoming real,” Martinez said, reflecting on the road to a second shop. The couple is determined to honor the trust placed in them. “All we can hope is that we make them proud and make our community proud as we continue to grow,” she said.
Cafe Francais Broadway is poised to welcome customers in early August, bringing its buttery croissants, kouign-amanns, eclairs, and more to a new neighborhood.
For more information, visit cafefrancaisaz.com.
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Article written by:
Jackie Tran
More about JackieJackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.
An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.
Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.
If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.
