Brooklyn French Bakers opened its doors at the end of 2021 and the quaint neighborhood bakery became a local favorite. What began as a small storefront on Columbia Street Waterfront has grown into three locations across Brooklyn, with the newest opening this May in Downtown Brooklyn at 41 Flatbush Avenue.
Behind the bakery are three French founders, Nelly Azambre, Sabrina Tartour, and Teddy Collet, whose paths to baking were anything but traditional. Before opening the bakery, they worked as an engineer, a banker, and a chemist, respectively. None had professional baking experience, but all had relocated from France to New York to support their spouses’ careers.
For Sabrina, the move sparked an unexpected career change. After arriving in New York eight years ago with her family, she decided to pursue her longtime passion for pastry. She returned to France to study for a year and a half, earning her pastry certification before bringing her skills back to Brooklyn. Living in Carroll Gardens, she began baking French pastries like lemon meringue pie and mille-feuille, quickly building a loyal following among neighbors.
Along the way, she met Nelly, who was inspired to pursue pastry after hearing Sabrina’s story. Through their children’s school community, they also met Teddy, who had similarly moved to New York with his family. The three joined forces when an opportunity arose to open a small bakery space on Columbia Street.
The response was immediate. As demand grew, Brooklyn French Bakers expanded with additional locations nearby and in Park Slope before bringing its authentic French pastries to Downtown Brooklyn.
The founders describe Brooklyn French Bakers as more than just a bakery. Their vision is to recreate the experience of a traditional French bakery and pastry shop, showcasing authentic French craftsmanship through products made fresh in-house every day using high-quality ingredients and no artificial additives. Their goal is to create warm, welcoming spaces where everyone can enjoy the true taste of France.
Brooklyn French Bakers’ pastry display case.
That vision comes to life in their newest location. Their Downtown Brooklyn shop is their largest yet and offers something different from their other bakeries, with spacious indoor seating and a full espresso bar. The team saw Downtown Brooklyn as the ideal place to continue growing the business where its story began while introducing French specialties to both neighborhood residents and the thousands of people who work in the district each day. They also wanted to create a true café and tearoom experience, a place where customers can slow down, relax, and enjoy a peaceful moment amid the energy of one of Brooklyn’s busiest neighborhoods.
The bakery menu features freshly baked baguettes and country loaves, buttery croissants, brioches, quiches, sandwiches, cinnamon rolls, muffins, cookies, and an assortment of classic French pastries made fresh each day. Their craftsmanship has also earned citywide recognition, with Brooklyn French Bakers winning the New York City French Consulate General’s People’s Choice Award for Best Croissant.
As Brooklyn French Bakers continues to grow, the founders remain focused on the same values that helped launch the business just a few years ago: exceptional quality, thoughtful service, and earning the trust and loyalty of their customers. They are grateful for the support they’ve received and excited to continue growing alongside the Brooklyn community—one pastry at a time.
