French Pastry Maker Plans Austin Expansion

AUSTIN,TX — Florida-based French pastry maker La Macaron plans to add six locations in Austin a part of a statewide, 40-site expansion, company officials said.

Based in Sarasota, Florida, the pastry company was the first macaron franchise founded in 2009 by mother-daughter duo Rosalie an Audrey Guillem. The two aim to bring a taste to Austin with half-a-dozen kiosks, including one confirmed for The Domain.

Currently, there are five locations across Texas — including a recent opening in San Antonio expected to be opened later this month. The Austin market was particularly appealing to the growth-minded team given its abundance of malls, stadiums, festivals and tourist hubs, officials said.

All told there currently 53 Le Macron locations in different markets, Rosalie Guillem said in a telephone interview. Jason Bolsinger is the franchise owner for the planned Austin sites, she said. She declined to reveal locations for other kiosks, pending the ongoing nature of negotiations.

"I really fell in love with Austin," she said, recalling past visits to the city. "It would be great to come to this beautiful city," she recalled having thought, describing how the abundance of green spaces reminded of her native Provence.

The city's youthful dynamics also added to the appeal of expanding locally, she noted. With youth in mind particularly, Le Macaron recently added to its line of pastries with culinary twists — peanut butter and pumpkin macaroons, to name a couple of examples.

The location at The Domain is expected to open within the next two months, Guillem said.

According to the Le Macaron website, its namesake pastry is considered to be "the jewel of French pastries" throughout Europe. "Our macarons will delight ... First bite is a surprise. Second bite is the flavor. Third bite is the pleasure™... all adding up to create a mouthful of heaven!" the website reads.

Aside from its signature macarons, the pastry maker offers a line of other pastries, patisseries,

gelato, European style beverages and more. The company describes its offerings as "little luxuries that make people smile."