Bonne Vie Macarons (BVM) in Lafayette has been building a community with its sweet treats, friendly service, and occasional book clubs, so much so that the bakery is adding an attached romance bookstore when it opens its new location this spring.
“We built a reputation not just on our high-quality macarons and desserts but on creating a space where people felt connected and made friends,” owner Heather DeGeyter recently told What Now New Orleans via email, “whether that was through our cozy café vibes, themed events, free library features or club meetings.”
With the new space at 105 St. Landry St. in Lafayette, BVM is expanding that community energy with Book Club & Co. — a dedicated romance bookstore under the same roof. The twin-purpose space will have reading nooks, dedicated event spaces, and a refined menu that complements the bookstore setting. Along with the macarons, baked goods, and classic café offerings, there will also be themed cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks.
“The romance bookstore complements Bonne Vie Macarons perfectly because both businesses share the same DNA: comfort, escapism, and joy,” DeGeyter said. “Whether it’s through a macaron or a new read, we want people to find a moment of happiness. Ideally, they’re fully blown away by all our offerings!”
Construction of the new space is slated to end in late March or April. There will be a soft opening followed by private book club nights and a grand opening celebration leading into Easter and Mother’s Day.
“We’re building the space we always wished existed,” DeGeyter said, “a place where you can escape into your next great read, sip something glittering, have a dessert that’s worth every penny, and stay a while.”
