Gwinnett Daily Post

4500 Satellite Blvd., Suite 1170, Duluth

770-446-5656

www.facebook.com/ArtsBakeryAndCafe

Open Since: June

Owners: Art and Samia Tekerian

Location: It is located off of Satellite Boulevard in the Paragon Town Center strip mall.

Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays

Atmosphere: When you first enter the doors, the inside of the bakery has scents of fresh coffee and baking treats. There is a large glass case displaying all of the hand crafted sweets, all of which are from either French or Middle Eastern decent.

There are a handful of tables scattered around the room with chairs adorning coffee mug cut-outs. The walls have art from all over the world, adding to the international flare.

The owners wanted to create a place for people to come to eat and drink. They want folks to relax and converse while they are here.

Families, even those with small children, are welcome. Patrons can dine in or take out. The cafe also offers a variety of croissants filled with an array of meats and cheeses.

Menu: Chef Art makes everything in the display case, including all of the creams and frostings that layer the cakes.

"I make everything from scratch," he said. "I get my inspirations from everywhere and I keep my recipes a secret because I've worked on them for many years."

Tekerian loves baking the sugary morsels, but his heart lies with creating large cakes for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and any other celebration.

"People bring pictures that they want for a cake and I make it," he said. "It takes me a whole day to bake, decorate and make the cake."

Chef Art has been baking for 22 years. He learned his skills while studying under French bakers while living in his homeland of Lebanon. In 2002, he packed his bags and moved to the States, where he eventually married his wife, Samia. Tekerian's last job was at a Middle Eastern grocery store, but felt like he wasn't using his talents enough -- he wanted his own bakery.

"He was only doing about 50 percent of what he's doing now," Samia Tekerian said. "He needed something more."

Things you might not know: When there is a large cake order, the bakery will shut down for an entire day for Chef Art to work on the massive creation.

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