Photo Credit: @maisonladuree/Instagram
Angelenos, get ready to sate your sweet tooth on a tres chic treat: luxe French macaron maker Ladurée is opening its first Los Angeles outpost at The Grove.
Though it isn’t quite clear yet when the 150-year-old sweet shop—which is arguably the most famous macaron-maker in the world—will open its doors, signage officially went up today at Rick Caruso‘s beloved outdoor shopping center, announcing its arrival with a macaron-decorated backdrop.
Its backdrop is setting the scene for what is to come: if its worldwide locations are any indication, its home at The Grove will be just as opulent as its storied Parisian haunts, which resemble nothing less than delicate jewel boxes.
The French hot spots are favorites of couture-crazy Americans who frequent the City of Lights during Paris Fashion Week, as much as for their fashion pedigree as the overall ambiance and taste: throughout time, the brand has collaborated with several high-end houses on limited-edition flavors and chic containers, including the likes of Emilio Pucci, Lanvin and Reed Krakoff.
The Parisian tea room has a rich and storied history: it opened its door in 1862, when Louis Ernest Ladurée, a miller from the southwest of France, founded a bakery in Paris at 16 rue Royale. In 1871, a fire in the bakery opened the opportunity to transform it into a pastry shop. The decoration of the pastry shop was entrusted to Jules Cheret, a famous turn-of-the-century painter and poster artist. And the stunning sweet shop was born. Ownership of the brand was taken over by David Holder, Vice-Chairman of the Holder group and Ladurée’s Chairman, in 1997. He began to expand internationally, opening locations in the United States—on Manhattan’s Madison Avenue and in Soho, as well as in Miami. There are also a plethora of French macaron houses, located in prime vacation spots for the rich and famous including Cannes, Courchevel, Saint Tropez and Orly.
The brand not only makes pastries and macarons, but also chocolates, candles, gifts and home fragrances.
