Marc Heu’s pop-up in Minneapolis is going to be permanent

Just in time for its seventh anniversary, Marc Heu Patisserie Paris has announced that its Minneapolis holiday pop-up will become permanent, turning a short-term experiment in Linden Hills into a second long-term home.

The French bakery, founded in St. Paul by spouses chef Marc Heu and Gaosong Heu, opened the Minneapolis location in October with plans to close Dec. 31. Instead, it will pause briefly before reopening Jan. 10.

“Marc and I just couldn’t be more excited to have this opportunity to continue to serve a different part of our community in Minneapolis, and to continue to grow as a company,” Gaosong Heu told the Minnesota Star Tribune.

The pop-up was never guaranteed to last. Heu said the couple had been searching for a Minneapolis location for six years but hadn’t found the right fit. When a short-term opportunity surfaced last summer, they decided to take the risk.

But even they didn’t realize just how strong the demand would be on the west side of the metro for those meticulous pastries. “We completely underestimated how busy we were going to be,” Heu said. “On the weekends, we still have lines out the door.”

Looking ahead, the Minneapolis menu will largely mirror the St. Paul location, with croissants, pastries, cakes and coffee, though she said the permanent setup gives them room to respond to neighborhood feedback. “People have also been asking for savory foods, so sandwiches, soup, salads,” Heu said, adding that the goal is “really high quality, non-pretentious French food.”

For the Heus, Linden Hills feels like the right long-term match. “The neighborhood has a thriving community that is very active in supporting local businesses,” she said. “There’s a culture around wanting to grab a croissant in the morning and grabbing coffee.”

“We know that a lot of people have high hopes for us as a business, and we don’t take that lightly at all,” Heu said. “Not just being a French bakery, but being a Hmong-owned business as well, I know people just really want us to succeed. Marc and I have lots of gratitude.”

Marc Heu Patisserie Paris closes temporarily Dec. 31, reopening Jan. 10, at 3509 W. 44th St., Mpls. The St. Paul location is at 156 N. Dale St.; marcheuparis.com

Less than a mile from its first location in northeast Minneapolis, Parcelle is coming to the North Loop.

The California-inspired organic cafe just posted signs on the site of the former Cooks | Bellecour space, at 210 N. 1st St., Mpls. Parcelle owner Kamal Mohamed confirmed plans for a spring opening.

Since opening in 2024 at 233 E. Hennepin Av., Mpls., Parcelle has been the place for healthy-minded daytime eating: smoothies, breakfast burritos, bowls and espresso. Mohamed intends to bring it to more neighborhoods, with details of additional expansion for the brand coming soon.

In 2024, Sameh Wadi told the Star Tribune he was planning to bring back Saffron, the acclaimed Middle Eastern restaurant he and his brother helmed until 2016. At the time, he said he was scouting locations, and did not have a timeline for how long a Saffron revival would take.

“I have all the time in the world,” he said. “You know, I waited this long, there’s nothing wrong with waiting a little bit longer. But the timing right now just feels good. I’m energized. My team is energized. I have good, solid support in both of my places, and I feel like it’s a good time for me personally.”

Rochester foodies, take note. Ityhaas is soft launching in the southeastern Minnesota city on Jan. 7.

Located at 1121 Civic Center Dr. NW., Suite 204, Ityhaas promises Indian comfort food in the form of both vegetarian and meat dishes. The restaurant will be open daily for lunch and dinner.