A beloved Maryland bakery is preparing to wow the Virginia dining scene with European style treats and ambiance. Roggenart European Bakery, Bistro, & Cafe is debuting its first storefront outside of Maryland in Arlington later this year, reports Eater DC.
The bistro will be opening at 4401 Wilson Boulevard in late winter or early spring. Owners Neman Popov and Brody Tennant spoke with What Now DC about bringing their vision to Northern Virginia. “We think that Arlington is really booming and has the makeup of people that we are looking for.” Popov explains. “We think a bakery like this is missing in Arlington and we want to become that community staple. It’s a really cool place-it’s beautiful and fits our vibe and ambiance.”
Popov and Tennant hope to create a cool and distinctive location for Arlington residents. “We want to be the third place-it’s not fast casual, it’s not a coffee shop. It’s a cafe.” Popov states, adding “There’s no pressure to order anything but you have options because it’s a bistro. The pastries are fresh because everything we make is baked from scratch in small batches.”
The pair explains that the location presented too good of an option to resist. “I always say ‘why not’.” says Popov. “The opportunity presents itself. Sometimes it does not knock at the most convenient time but when it’s there…We found this location, we thought it was remarkable. It’s almost a park-like setting with a nice fountain.”
“We’re always on the lookout for the right opportunity for us.” Tennant adds. “We’re entrepreneurial in spirit so we figure if we can do it, we will.”
Roggenart aims to create a warm and inviting atmosphere for the community. Tennant states “The dream visit is: you come in and feel very positive, welcoming energy. There’s a large array of products we create from scratch. People can really let the eyes feast and then enjoy a nice espresso and then have a pleasant time.”
“We want to create an experience and a destination.” Popov adds “We want all 5 senses to enjoy. We really do everything in house-we even do our own mayo and our own sausages. We’re even experimenting with doing our own butter in house. We want to create real food, the way it’s supposed to be.”
Arlington foodies can look forward to sampling Roggenart’s delicious treats this March. Popov explains “We are bringing our construction to an end. We’re looking at about 30 days, the sooner the better.”
Popov and Tennant have their eyes on the horizon. The pair plan to open Roggenarts in Baltimore and Frederick. Outside of the DMV, the duo hope to bring Roggenart to Chicago soon.
