Overview:
Constantin Mayard, a longtime presence behind the counter at La P’tite Baguette in Cambria Heights, is remembered for serving to flip the neighborhood bakery right into a neighborhood gathering place via kindness, consistency and care.
For a lot of longtime residents of Cambria Heights, Queens, La P’tite Baguette Store has been woven into each day life. Neighbors cease in on their option to work, households choose up patties for gatherings, and acquainted faces behind the counter make every go to really feel private.
On the middle of that familiarity for many years was Constantin Mayard, whose regular presence and kindness helped remodel the neighborhood bakery right into a neighborhood gathering place.
La P’tite Baguette Store has served Cambria Heights for about 18 years, in line with longtime childhood good friend Karl Cadet. The unique La Baguette Store opened over 30 years in the past, in 1990, in Jamaica, Queens, with extra outlets opening over time. The Cambria Heights store stays the one one to hold the “P’tite” title. In complete, there are 15 places, spanning from Boston to New York.
Mayard immigrated to america from Haiti at 23 years outdated together with his three brothers and two sisters, who later opened the bakery’s different places. Working carefully together with his household, Mayard grew to become deeply concerned in each day operations, serving to foster an environment that prospects and coworkers described as welcoming and private.
Mayard personally chosen the Cambria Heights location, recognizing it as a crossroads between New York Metropolis and Lengthy Island. Over time, the store grew to become a daily cease for commuters and longtime residents alike, sustained by its location and the sense of familiarity Mayard cultivated.
Usually stationed behind the counter, Mayard greeted prospects by title and took time with each regulars and first-time guests, treating every interplay with persistence and care.
“He went above and past for these he knew and people he thought-about his buddies,” stated Linda Aris, who labored alongside him on the bakery. “Working with him was enjoyable, even on the times we needed to work actually exhausting.”
The store’s inside mirrored greater than décor. Group members described the area as an extension of Mayard’s persona and his funding in tradition. A lover of music, trend and the humanities, Mayard collected trinkets throughout provide runs, filling the bakery with objects that mirrored his pursuits.
Paintings lined the partitions, and outdoors stands a well-recognized statue of a baker, a landmark for a lot of passing by. Prospects stated these particulars helped make the bakery immediately recognizable and welcoming.
“His bakery was a spot of heat, tradition, and connection, providing pleasant Haitian-inspired items that carried the style of house and heritage” stated Cadet. “Constantin was greater than an proprietor, he was a pillar of the neighborhood.”
The bakery is greatest recognized for its soup joumou, bouillon cabrit, and ache créole, in addition to its gentle, flaky patties, crammed with beef, herring, codfish, spinach, and hen, baked contemporary all through the day. Their candy scent typically drifts via the store, greeting prospects as they enter.
Many remembered the small, constant methods Mayard confirmed care, from his heat greetings to the eye he gave every buyer. He labored from dawn to sunset and even temporary visits have been marked by recognition and kindness, prospects stated.
“He was greater than a good friend, he was household,” stated Alex Charlemagne, who has recognized Mayard since they each lived in Haiti. Charlemagne additionally moved to the U.S. a 12 months after Mayard, and stated he cherished their friendship which spanned a long time and continents.
Mayard handed away on January 17 on the age of 78. His wake was crammed with heartfelt reminiscences and reflections from his two daughters and his grandsons, Noah, Nori and Noble Henry, who was additionally his godson. In a touching tribute, Noah sang “Maria” by Tabou Combo, a music that held particular which means for Mayard.
Those that knew him keep in mind his sharp wit, his heat, and the deep bonds he shaped all through his life. For many years, he was a beloved presence within the Cambria Heights neighborhood, leaving a legacy of affection, laughter, and connection that continues to be felt.