Today we’d like to introduce you to Gregory Guillem
Hi Gregory, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Our Le Macaron Journey in Orlando
Thirteen years ago, my wife and I moved from France to Florida with our young son and my wife pregnant, eager to bring the taste of authentic French macarons to the Orlando area. Just a year earlier, our family had opened the first Le Macaron store in Sarasota, inspiring us to continue the tradition.
During a vacation, we fell in love with the charming town of Celebration and dreamed of opening our store there. However, at the time, no suitable locations were available. Instead, we discovered Winter Park, another beautiful community, and decided it was the perfect place to start our journey in Central Florida.
A few years later, the opportunity we had been waiting for finally arrived—we found the perfect spot in Celebration and opened the store we had always envisioned! Today, Celebration is our sole focus, as the Winter Park location is now under different ownership. My wife, Géraldine, is at the store almost every day, welcoming our wonderful regulars, who have become more than just customers—they are part of our extended family.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Of course, our journey wasn’t without challenges. The first big hurdle was the language barrier—barely speaking English was intimidating at first. But we quickly realized how welcoming and patient people in the U.S., especially in Central Florida, could be. Their kindness made all the difference as we settled into our new life.
Another challenge was introducing our product. Thirteen years ago, macarons were not nearly as well-known in the U.S. as they are today! We believed in our product and took pride in sharing it, but we had to find a way to get people to try something unfamiliar. The easiest and most effective solution? Offering samples—delivered in our rough English with a strong French accent! Letting customers experience the taste for themselves made all the difference, and soon, they fell in love with our macarons just as we had.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are a unique blend of a café and a specialty retail store, with our main focus being macarons. But not just any macarons—our specialty is authentic French macarons.
Today, macarons have become quite popular. You can find them everywhere, from grocery stores to charming pastry shops, and many people even try making them at home. However, what sets ours apart is not just the word French in the name—it’s the way they are made.
We follow the traditional French recipe, which differs from the simplified versions used in most macarons on the market. Our pastries are made with natural ingredients, and unlike mass-produced macarons that are primarily meringue-based, ours are almond-based. This gives them a much softer, more delicate texture—moist and rich in flavor. They may not have the perfectly uniform look of industrially produced macarons, but what they lack in factory precision, they more than make up for in taste, texture, and authenticity.
Many customers walk into our store and say right away, “Oh, I don’t like macarons.” But when we insist they try a sample, they quickly realize they’ve never actually tasted a real French macaron! Their reaction is always one of surprise and delight.
I like to say that when we first started, our job was to introduce people to what a macaron was—since they weren’t well known at the time. Today, our job is to help customers discover what a good macaron truly tastes like!
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
One of the most important lessons we’ve learned on this journey is the value of always respecting our customers.
Over the years, we’ve faced challenges—especially as new competitors, from grocery stores to cafés, entered the macaron market. At first, this was concerning, but we quickly realized that what truly sets us apart is our commitment to quality. Serving fresh, high-quality products made with the best ingredients has always been the key to keeping our customers coming back.
However, great products alone aren’t enough—exceptional service is just as important. Listening to our customers allows us to adapt, improve, and respond quickly if something isn’t meeting expectations. Being proactive and taking corrective action when needed is essential to maintaining both quality and trust.
In the end, we’ve learned that staying true to our values—authenticity, quality, and customer care—is what ensures longevity and success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Lemacaron-us.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/lemacaron.celebration
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/lemacaron.celebration
