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Specialty Macaron Bakery Opening on Armitage

By Paul Biasco | August 7, 2014 5:43pm | Updated on August 8, 2014 11:12am
 Cindy Summers is expanding her Sugar Fixe pastry business to Lincoln Park, where she will focus on French macarons.
Cindy Summers is expanding her Sugar Fixe pastry business to Lincoln Park, where she will focus on French macarons.
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Lindsay Schlesser

LINCOLN PARK — A new French pastry shop with a heavy focus on macarons is preparing to open in Lincoln Park.

Sugar Fixe Macaron hopes to be open at the corner of Sheffield and Armitage avenues for the holiday season. The pastry shop will be located in the former Argo Tea space.

Sugar Fixe's original location opened in downtown Oak Park in 2010, and has since seen the praise pour in.

Will Lincoln Park embrace the macarons? Perhaps Paul Biasco and Jon Hansen should figure out what they are first:

The independent shop was featured on the Food Network's dessert episode of "Sandwich King with Jeff Mauro" and, most importantly, the macarons were voted best in Chicago by Serious Eats.

Since Sugar Fixe owner Cindy Summers quit her job in the corporate world and opened her sweets shop, the macaron, a sweet cookie-like confection, has been the top seller.

"The macaron just blow everything else away," she said. "They are very, very popular and I think they are growing in popularity."

The top selling flavor in Oak Park is pistachio, with raspberry coming in at a close second, according to Summers.

The new shop, 958 W. Armitage Ave., will feature additional flavors and color options.

Lincoln Park's Sugar Fixe Macarons won't operate as a full service bakery like the Oak Park location, but will offer a number of desert style pastries and a full service coffee bar.

Summers said she understands there are a lot of competitors in the neighborhood such as newly opened Le Pain Quotidien across the street, and she plans to offer something unique.

"I wanted to make sure we were coming in and complimenting the neighboring businesses," Summers said.

The Lincoln Park Sugar Fixe fills the prominent empty storefront in the neighborhood, which was once Argo Tea's original location. 

Argo closed the location in April 2013 after 10 years in business.

Four years ago when Summers took a risk quitting her job in e-commerce, the idea of opening a second shop seemed like a pipe dream. Now, the 36-year-old says she can't imagine doing anything else.

"It's really crazy," she said. "Every day I'm shocked."

After spending 10 years at her corporate position she felt the need for a change, but couldn't find a new job.

Her husband suggested starting a new business of her own.

"He didn't have bakery in mind, but I did," Summers said.

A year later after quitting and attending pastry school, Summers achieved her dream of opening Sugar Fixe.

"No matter how many hours I work, at least it's mine," she said. "I can see the fruits of my labor."

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