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.