A mechanical engineer turned bakery owner is expanding her business into Livermore.

When San Ramon resident Shahla Vatannia decided to retire from her career as a consulting engineer for Chevron, she didn't want to sit idly at home so she took on a new project -- becoming a Paris Baguette franchise owner.

With one Tri-Valley store already successfully operating in Pleasanton at 6700 Santa Rita Road, Vatannia said she wanted to bring another location to the region to allow more people the opportunity to enjoy the pastries, breads, cakes and other goods that the French-inspired pâtisserie is known for.

The Paris Baguette menu includes both sweet and savory options among its variety of croissants, pies, donuts, sandwiches and signature loaves. They also serve an assortment of specialty beverages including both iced and hot coffees and teas.

Planned to open in 2024, the Livermore bakery will be located on First Street near downtown, Vatannia said, adding to the many dining options available in that portion of town. Still in the early planning stages, Vatannia said that she is in the process of finalizing the lease agreement and then will move ahead to the design and construction stages.

"I hope we can have a connection with the community and a very good connection with our customers and serve them the best quality," Vatannia said of her aspirations for the new store.

The Livermore bakery's forthcoming opening will bring the total number of locations within California to 89. However, there are more than 150 stores throughout the United States. The company plans to expand even further, with a goal to reach the 1,000-unit mark in the U.S. by 2030, according to the company's website.

Editor's Note: Fellow retiree and Concord resident Nivad Navid is co-owner of the forthcoming Paris Baguette location in Livermore.