*Hoarding being installed on October 27, 2015 at 1141 Robson Street. Photo: William Connor*

Update: This store opened at the end of March, 2016 ---> Details and Photos.

French luxury bakery and sweets maker Ladurée will open its Canadian location early next year on the 1100 block of Vancouver's Robson Street. The store will be operated by a local franchisee, according to sources. Ladurée confirms that the boutique will also feature a 16-seat tea room.

Founded in Paris in 1862, Ladurée is best known for its double-decker macarons, selling over 15,000 of them daily. Many Ladurée locations also sell ice cream, sorbets, jams, chocolate and candy, as well as branded accessories. Some Ladurée locations also serve afternoon tea. Ladurée was purchased by French business group Groupe Holder in 1993, expanding Ladurée from a handful of locations to dozens of boutiques in 25 countries. The company currently has three American locations, including two in Manhattan and one in Miami. Its first American location opened in August of 2011 on Madison Avenue in New York City, and last year it opened a large tea salon in New York's Soho area.

Sources confirm that a Vancouver-based franchisee has secured the rights to Ladurée in Canada, and that the 1141 Robson Street store is expected to open in late January/early February of 2016. The retail space was formerly occupied by beauty retailer The Body Shop, and is located between footwear retailer Steve Madden and a Telus retail location.

We've contacted Ladurée for further details on the company's Canadian store expansion, and we'll update this article when we learn more.