Dar Rafiki's, Haverhill’s French‑Moroccan bakery, is leveling up this summer, with owner Lhoussine Rafiq planning a move into a larger storefront at Academy Plaza on South Main Street. The new spot will shift the operation from a mostly takeout‑and‑catering setup into a full bakery‑café with indoor seating and a breakfast menu, and Rafiq says the expansion could more than double his staff while preserving the bakery's long morning‑to‑evening hours.
As reported by WHAV, the Academy Plaza location will let Rafiq offer sit‑down service along with earlier morning options. He teased, "I am planning some very special delights," and told the outlet he intends to keep hours at roughly 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. while growing his team from about 22 employees as business ramps up.
Dar Rafiki’s started life as a food truck in 2016 and made the jump to a brick‑and‑mortar takeout shop in September 2024 at 389 Main Street, according to Northshore Magazine. The bakery has since drawn a loyal crowd for its cube croissants, Moroccan chicken shawarma sandwiches and a rotating lineup of French‑style pastries, according to Dar Rafiki's.
What The New Space Brings
Commercial listings for Academy Plaza show an available South Main Street unit of roughly 2,400 square feet, a substantial jump that would accommodate both a dining room and expanded baking production, according to Hammond Residential Real Estate. The plaza sits along Route 125 in Bradford and sees steady drive‑by traffic, which should give the bakery a visibility boost for daily pastry runs and breakfast service.
Licensing And Next Steps
Rafiq told WHAV he plans to go before the Haverhill License Commission for a common victualler’s license once construction is closer to the finish line. The City of Haverhill's licensing pages spell out the application, inspection and occupancy requirements for that license, including standard fees and the need for signed inspection forms.
Local coverage has highlighted Dar Rafiki's as a standout on the North Shore pastry map, and the move to a sit‑down format is poised to draw more people into Bradford and downtown Haverhill. Northshore Magazine noted that the bakery's blend of French technique with Moroccan flavors has helped it build a steady following.
Rafiq has not offered an exact opening date, saying construction must wrap up first, though he still expects the move to happen later this summer. Residents who want to track permitting and public hearings can keep an eye on upcoming License Commission agendas as Dar Rafiki's gets closer to its first day of service in the new space.
