Less than two years after opening Cocotte French Bakery in Cornelius, founders Alexandre Darbousset and Angela Yeo are preparing to launch a second location in Huntersville as they continue growing their authentic French bakery concept throughout the Lake Norman region.
The new bakery, located at 111 Gilead Road, is expected to open in late July or early August. The expansion comes as the couple builds on the success of a business rooted in traditional French baking and strong community ties.
The pair moved from France to the United States in 2016 and previously owned Le Café Gourmet in Savannah, Georgia. Opening Cocotte in 2024 marked a significant career change, with Darbousset transitioning from civil engineering and Yeo from marketing and communications.
Today, Darbousset serves as Cocotte’s head baker, working in the bakery daily and overseeing production.
“We already have real French pastries made with French flour by a French baker,” Yeo told WhatNow Charlotte.
The Huntersville location will offer the same menu as the original bakery while introducing a more French-inspired atmosphere with Parisian bistro influences. Unlike the Cornelius location, the new shop will focus on the guest experience rather than housing production operations.
“The quality and the deliciousness is already there, and we would like to provide the full experience, giving a more French atmosphere over there as well,” Yeo said.
That experience will remain family-focused. The new bakery will feature a children’s corner similar to the one at the Cornelius location, reflecting the role Cocotte has come to play as a gathering place for local families.
The Huntersville opening is only part of the company’s growth plans. The founders are currently searching for a larger production kitchen and evaluating future opportunities to expand elsewhere in the Lake Norman area.
“We won’t be there without the support of the community, and we say thank you to all for making Lake Norman our home,” Yeo said.
With a second location on the way, a larger production facility under consideration, and additional expansion plans taking shape, Cocotte’s growth story appears to be just getting started.
