It looks like another quiet shift has happened in Vancouver’s cafe scene.
Foret Noire Patisserie, known for its French pastries, croissants, and macarons, has quietly gone through an ownership change and a rebrand.
After first opening its West Broadway location in 2018 and later expanding to Robson Street, the bakery cafe was a favourite for its refined Parisian vibes and sweets.
But back in March, regulars were surprised to find both locations suddenly closed with only signs taped to the doors and no official explanation.
Fast forward to May, and the picture is finally a bit clearer.
The Robson location reopened in early May, but the West Broadway shop did not.
Staff on-site shared with us that the Broadway location would be permanently closed but couldn’t provide further details at the time.
Then, on May 14, Foret Noire’s Instagram quietly switched to a new name: Le Belisse Cafe, along with a short announcement confirming the change.
We reached out for more information and heard back from Jay, one of the new owners. Here’s what he told Noms Magazine:
“I was one of Foret Noire’s shareholders and also the pastry chef at the Broadway kitchen. The landlord at West Broadway wanted to sell the property, and with our lease ending, the Foret Noire company decided to close its Vancouver shops. I’ve taken over the Robson location to keep things moving forward.
The kitchen team remains the same, and we’ll continue to maintain the original quality and product line.”
In other words, while the West Broadway neighbourhood has lost a beloved bakery, Robson Street has retained a familiar face, just under a new name.
Le Belisse Cafe has now updated the shop signage and fans can expect the same quality croissants, cakes, and pastries that earned Foret Noire its following over the past seven years.
As Jay simply put it: “After that (the change of signage), the Foret Noire brand will become history.”
Le Belisse Cafe is just one of many changes happening in Downtown Vancouver.
Just a few steps down, the longtime Italian restaurant, Zefferelli’s, has shut down.
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Address: 1126 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6E 1B2