The first Woops Bakery in Idaho has opened at 119 N. Fourth, in downtown Coeur d’Alene.

Franchisee Shelly Boyd says she fell in love with the Manhattan, N.Y.-based company when researching new career opportunities.

“I had been a teacher but took time off to care for my parents when they became ill,” she says. “During that time, I did a lot of baking, and I really enjoyed it. I settled on Woops because the franchise aligned with my philosophy and what I wanted to do.”

Boyd says Woops focuses on international pastries, specializing in French macarons, as well as other deserts iconic to their countries of origin.

“We’ve got cookies from Argentina, custard tarts from Portugal, Belgian waffles, as well as coffee, tea, and freshly made sandwiches,” she says.

Boyd says the bakeshop occupies a newly remodeled, 1,400-square-foot space on the ground floor of the historic Montgomery Ward building.

Boyd says she and her husband, Phil, are members of Wiggett Partners LLC, the ownership group that purchased the building last year.

She says the ownership group plans to rent the entire building and has been working with Coeur d’Alene-based Contractors Northwest Inc. to restore it.

Boyd says most of the remodeling work will be completed by November, and there are now only a few spaces still available for lease.

“This building was vacant for the last 12 years, and the block has been quiet for so long, it’s just wonderful to see it moving forward,” she says.