Downtown Kirkland’s former Starbucks is trading in drip coffee for buttery layers and bubbly. Le Croissant Bar, a new bakery-cafe from owner Monica Kuchman, is set to open at 116 Lake Street, promising made-to-order croissants, desserts and coffee by day, then a late-night dessert and champagne scene on weekends.
The concept is designed to pull double duty, serving as a grab-and-go morning stop for commuters and a dessert bar for night owls who would rather end the evening with a flaky pastry and a glass of something sparkling than another round at the bar.
As reported by What Now, business filings show Le Croissant Bar will occupy the former Starbucks space at 116 Lake Street. The outlet also notes the shop is owned by Monica Kuchman and that an official opening date has not yet been announced.
Menu and pairings
The Le Croissant Bar website details a pastry lineup that leans hard into both comfort and flair. Croissant flavors include classic almond, strawberry vanilla, peach cream cheese and blueberry lemon curd. Desserts on deck range from tiramisu affogato to mango pineapple cheesecake and banana pudding.
It is not all sugar, though. The menu also features savory options like the "Miss Figgy Piggy," which layers fig jam, prosciutto, pears and brie into one decidedly not-shy croissant. The shop says it plans to offer beer, wine and champagne pairings on Friday and Saturday nights, turning the former coffee chain corner into a small-scale dessert-and-drinks destination.
Licensing and evening plans
According to What Now, the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board has approved the eatery's liquor license in business filings, clearing the way for weekend bubbly service. The license appears to be filed under BraveHeart Mountain Coffee LLC, the name Kuchman uses for her coffee venture.
Owner and mission
Kuchman launched BraveHeart Mountain Coffee in 2020 as a social enterprise to support wounded veterans, starting with roasted beans sold at regional events and at Costco before she began selling croissants at farmers markets. The Le Croissant Bar website connects that origin story to the new shop’s menu and calls the project "a dream kneaded with faith, community and the joy of creating beauty through food."
Downtown turnover
The 116 Lake Street unit opened up after Starbucks closed its downtown Kirkland location last fall, leaving a high-visibility corner suddenly available for an independent operator. Local reporting, including My Edmonds News, listed that closure among several regional shutdowns.
The space is rejoining a quickly shifting dining strip. Recent openings, such as Tanaka Ramen, are part of what one report calls a busy stretch for Kirkland dining along the downtown corridor.
An official opening date for Le Croissant Bar has not been announced. The shop's site previously displayed "COMING SOON MARCH 2026." For now, Kuchman and her team are moving ahead with build-out work and are sharing progress updates on the Le Croissant Bar site and social channels.
