Cousins Ali Kamboh and Ammar Zafar bring an outpost of the Paris Baguette franchise to Shadyside — and elevate the concept beyond the expected.
Inside Shadyside’s New Paris Baguette
The atmosphere at Paris Baguette recalls the title of a Hemingway short story: A Clean, Well-Lighted Place. The Walnut Street spot, which opened in December, offers a safe haven for those seeking refuge in a cup of cafe au lait alongside the eponymous bread. The storefront stands out distinctively as the shopping district’s newest fixture; its attractive, circular bold logo easily catches the eye. And, while it’s part of a global chain, its local owners have made it their own — and elevated it beyond what visitors might expect from a franchise.
Peering into the storefront, passersby are struck by the vast array of baked goods along a wall gleaming with blue and white tile. Once inside, customers are tempted by an astounding variety of pastries, croissants, doughnuts, bread, jams, cakes, sandwiches and (of course) coffee. Ample free samples often sit on display cases, enticing those in line.
Deliciously Alluring and Now Close to Home
Paris Baguette is a global bakery cafe franchise that boasts over 4,000 locations worldwide, with more than 250 locations in North America. (There’s another outpost within the Block at Northway shopping center on McKnight Road.) The Shadyside store’s origin story is a tale of two cousins: Ali Kamboh and Ammar Zafar from Upper St. Clair, who started this venture together. They grew up loving their moms’ brownies, cakes and cupcakes. They also remember their parents’ willingness to cross a bridge and tunnel for a prime Walnut Street shopping experience.
Fast forward a decade and a half: Zafar was out for a run on a cold January day when he spotted a vacant sign in a Walnut Street shop window. The location would be perfect, he thought, for a plan he had hatched with Kamboh. (Pittsburghers, always eager to wonder what a place used to be, will most likely remember the 4,000-square-foot Williams Sonoma store that closed in 2023.) Zafar inquired about the vacancy that day; within two years, Paris Baguette became a reality.
More Than Just a Franchise
Both investors were attracted to this fast-growing chain. “We liked the concept, the brand and all that it stood for,” Kamboh says. “The menu is immense, the quality is amazing, and the company believes in giving back to the community.” (At present, they partner with local church groups to prevent food waste — and are eager to find more opportunities for philanthropy.) He wanted a chance to feed his entrepreneurial spirit; Zafar, influenced by many trips to New York City, wanted to run a business involving coffee. “I just love lattes,” he says.
Both studied business at the University of Pittsburgh and collectively gained experience in business administration, commercial real estate and corporate sales — the perfect amalgam to co-own a franchise.
Evening Treats That Won’t Sell Out
Zafar points out, “Pittsburgh has a lot of great bakeries, but we wanted to bring something that will add to that — giving people another option.” The cousins envision their bakery filling a void in the neighborhood. They offer longer hours than most nearby cafes, opening daily at 6 am and closing at 9 pm. They brew fresh Lavazza coffee throughout the day and offer a variety of options to satisfy all appetites (including croissant breakfast sandwiches and baguette sandwiches for lunch and dinner). And, vitally, they say they don’t run out of baked goods. “Sometimes, you go to a bakery and there’s nothing to choose from by 4 or 5 pm. You get upset, right? We won’t let that happen here,” Zafar says.
Everything sold at Paris Baguette is made daily in-house, including the fresh bread. “The quality of our items is outstanding,” Zafar says. “Seriously, our croissant doughnut is unlike anything.”
Developing a Pittsburgh Attitude
Every day has been a fun challenge, Kamboh says. Right now, they’re learning how to keep up with the volume. Moving forward, they hope to do more with the catering side of the business — as well as promoting their designer cakes.
The cousins hope customers will notice the huge, custom-designed wall mural they helped design. It features famous city landmarks including the Cathedral of Learning (visible from Walnut Street), the Duquesne Incline, Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall, Carnegie Mellon University’s Mellon Institute, the Downtown skyline and — lest we forget — the city’s pro sports teams.
Taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi, ample seating and electrical outlets (a serious concern), neighbors file in to work, write or read outside of the house. In that regard, Hemingway would certainly approve.
Story by Tina Tuminella
Photos by Laura Petrilla