Bon Apptit
by January 5, 2015 12:00 am 68 views
Foodies will be interested to know that Dallas-based fast, casual restaurant chain La Madeleine Country French Café is planning to open five restaurants in Arkansas.
The chain has signed an agreement with a franchisee based in Little Rock, Chi Development Co., to develop the locations in central and Northwest Arkansas. The new restaurants would be the first units in the state.
Chi Development is led by principal developer Jacob Chi, a successful restaurateur and hotelier.
Specific locations and opening dates for the Arkansas restaurants were not disclosed, but according to a company spokesperson, the first Arkansas location will open in Little Rock — not downtown — in the second half of 2015. Northwest Arkansas locations will be developed after that.
With more than 70 locations in seven states, La Madeleine serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Menu items include entrees, soups, salads, sandwiches, pastries and freshly baked breads.
The parent company of La Madeleine is Dallas-based Le Duff America Inc., which purchased the Mimi’s Cafe chain in 2013 for $50 million.
Le Duff America, the North American subsidiary of Paris, France-based Groupe Le Duff, has a portfolio that includes La Madeleine, Bruegger’s Bagels, Brioche Doree, Timothy’s Coffee and Michel’s Baguette in the United States and Canada.