Bijou, a classic pastry shop in the heart of Cascais, closed its doors at the end of 2024. This iconic establishment, which first opened in 1929, was famous for its regional delicacies like areias and nozes de Cascais, as well as its coffee. In recent years, the space had been expanded, taking over the back area that was previously a games room and a home goods store. The shop also introduced a dedicated coffee roasting area and launched its own brand featuring various specialties.
Pedro Canelas, the managing partner, explained that the plan was to transfer ownership of the space - and possibly the Bijou brand - to new proprietors. However, licensing issues, which he attributes to the local council, have so far prevented this from happening. "I’m getting on in years; I had a burnout scare last year, and my doctor advised me to slow down. It’s time for me to move on. I don’t want to die surrounded by cakes and coffee", said Canelas, who has been with Bijou since 1979, in an interview with Time Out.
A collective redundancy and transfer of ownership process were initiated, but unexpected bureaucratic hurdles derailed their efforts. "Since we had already started the redundancy process, we had to close our doors. So, Bijou is closed for an indefinite period", he added.
Canelas expressed hope that a future buyer might preserve the Bijou brand, though he stressed that the new owner would have complete freedom to repurpose the space as they see fit in the heart of the village.