Today we’d like to introduce you to Hélène Taylor.
Hi Hélène, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in France, and I moved to the United States in 1996 after completing my college degree in Marketing and Accounting. My entire family still lives in France. I later got married and had four children. I stayed home with my children for 13 years, and in 2011, when my youngest started school, I finally had the time to pursue a long-held dream: sharing a bit of French culture with the Sykesville community.
At the time, there was no coffee shop in Sykesville, and I felt the town could benefit from one. That idea led me to begin research, and it marked the start of my journey as an entrepreneur.
To prepare, I spent a week in Portland, Oregon, attending the American Barista & Coffee School, where I trained as a barista and learned how to open and manage a coffee shop. I also completed 12 entrepreneurship courses at the Miller Center at Carroll Community College. In addition, I trained with a chef who had prepared crêpes for the French Embassy; he taught me how to make professional crêpes on a commercial griddle, which is very different from making them at home.
I joined the Maryland Restaurant Association and took courses in food safety and other restaurant fundamentals. I also approached Café de Paris, a French restaurant with a crêpe bistro in Ellicott City and told the owner about my plan to open a crêperie in Sykesville. In exchange for the opportunity to learn about the restaurant industry, I volunteered 20 hours per week for five months. He agreed, and I gained invaluable hands-on experience.
To further develop my skills, I later worked at Zippani in Eldersburg, where I practiced my barista skills and experienced day-to-day café operations. I also spoke with the Sykesville town manager about my project and connected with a commercial property owner who took a chance on me and has been my landlord ever since.
The next step was to write a comprehensive business plan. This was one of the most challenging parts of the process, but it was essential in defining my mission and vision, as well as creating a solid financial plan to present to the bank for funding.
It was a long journey from 2011 until April 1st, 2014, when I finally opened The French Twist.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, but is starting a business ever a smooth road?
The first major challenge was securing the right location. The French Twist operates in a historic building that was originally owned by the Town of Sykesville. At the time, the building was located behind Main Street, at the back of a parking lot. In the early 2000s, the Town of Sykesville received a grant to preserve the historic house, and it was relocated to its current location with the goal of attracting a bank to the town.
Long story short, the funding eventually ran out, and the building was put up for sale. Although the house had been moved, it was only a shell. There was no electricity, no plumbing, and no staircase leading to the second floor. Transforming this empty structure into a functioning business required several years of construction, hard work, and determination.
Today, that same building is home to The French Twist, or as many people affectionately call it, “The Twist.” It has become a welcoming place in the community and a reminder that great things often come from perseverance and a willingness to take on challenges.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about French Twist Cafe?
Like many crêperies in France, the French Twist embraces an open-kitchen concept where guests can witness their crêpes being made fresh to order. Our café offers a cozy first floor with intimate seating and a spacious front porch and patio for outdoor dining. Upstairs, guests can gather around large community tables or smaller tables, complete with games and books for added comfort and leisure. At the French Twist, our guests enjoy specialty coffee drinks served with beautiful latte art and can choose from a variety of traditional French savory or sweet crêpes from our extensive menu, including vegan and gluten-free options. Located in a charming historic Colonial blue house, our café has been serving crêpes for over 12 years.
What’s next?
I am so excited to say that the French Twist is expanding! I have been working with the property owner to put an addition in the back of the building. This addition will allow me to have a larger kitchen and add 3 additional crêpe griddles (for faster service) and also more table for our guests on the first floor. The French Twist’s door will have to close for a couple of month but I am very excited to re-open when it is done.
Pricing:
- Specialty coffee from $3 to $10
- Crêpes from $5 to $21
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.FrenchTwistCafe.com
- Instagram: @frenchtwistcafe
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tfTWIST
