Cafe Francais closing permanently after seven years in Tucson

Cafe Francais, the French bakery known for its scratch-made croissants and kouign-amann, is closing for good. Owners Noelle and Daniel Martinez announced the closure on Instagram Wednesday afternoon, ending a seven-year run that began on Tucson's east side.

"Thank you, Tucson, for one hell of a crazy, amazing, and sometimes terrible 7-year ride," the couple wrote. "We've truly loved it all, the good, the bad, and the difficult."

Cafe Francais' history in Tucson

Noelle and Daniel bought Cafe Francais in 2019, shortly after getting married, taking over a small bakery listing they found by chance. They opened a storefront at 7831 E. Wrightstown Rd. after the pandemic, and rebuilt the business from the ground up, replacing every inherited recipe with their own scratch-made viennoiserie, fillings and glazes.

See our Reel on the first location here.

The bakery grew steadily from there, eventually pulling out of farmers markets to focus on its Wrightstown Road storefront alone. A year ago, the couple opened a second location on Broadway Boulevard, expanding into a more central part of town and growing a social media following of more than 13,000.

See our Reel of the second location here.

Rising costs led to the decision

Despite the growth, rising costs of goods, labor, rent and utilities eventually caught up with the business. The couple returned to farmers markets to help make ends meet, but said it still wasn't enough to sustain two storefronts.

"This economy has only become more and more uncertain," the couple wrote, adding that they refused to cut corners on quality to save money. Daniel, who has worked most weeks up to six days and long hours, has carried much of that weight, and the couple said they've reached a point where they have to prioritize their family and health.

Last chances for pastries

Cafe Francais will attend the Rincon and Rillito farmers markets this weekend. The bakery is also running a pre-order-only operation Saturday and Sunday at its Wrightstown Road location, with pre-orders closing Friday at noon through the bakery's website.

Whether the bakery continues selling through additional weekends depends on how this one goes. The couple said they don't expect to return to food service anytime soon.

What's next for Noelle and Daniel

Daniel recently finished writing his 11th book, titled "Karialisee," set for release on October 13. Customers who mention the couple's Instagram closure post this Sunday, which marks the bakery's seventh anniversary, can receive a free signed copy while supplies last.

The couple is also helping former staff find new positions and says their landlords are open to finding a new tenant for a turnkey bakery setup. Anyone interested in hiring former staff or taking over either location can reach out through Cafe Francais' Instagram.