Manuel Verney-Carron knew exactly where he wanted to start his new restaurant.

When the native Frenchman learned about Hammond's Ferry in North Augusta, he decided to open Manuel's Bread Cafe in the heart of the community.

The bakery and pastry shop, the first commercial tenant to sign a lease at Hammond's Ferry, is expected to open the first week of September.

"I always wanted to open a storefront, and I was keeping an eye on Hammond's Ferry because I liked the concept," Mr. Verney-Carron said.

"It's the perfect fit for me and them. We complement each other."

Hammond's Ferry is a mixed-use traditional neighborhood development by New York-based Leyland Alliance LLC. Upon completion, the community will have 850 new homes, condos and apartments and 80,000 square feet of retail and office space.

The large shopping center near the riverfront, Town Center, is under construction and should be complete by the end of 2010, said project manager N. Turner Simkins.

Manuel's Bread Cafe is located within the residential community, along with two additional commercial sites. One of those is Edge Salon and Spa, which opened last week.

Mr. Verney-Carron owned several hotels, bars and restaurants when he lived in France. He moved to the United States in 1994 and began working at downtown Augusta's La Maison on Telfair.

After 10 years as general manager and chef, he worked at resorts in Lake Placid, N.Y., and Little Palm Island in the Florida Keys as a food and beverage manager.

He returned to Augusta in 2004 and realized that there were no European-style bakeries in Augusta.

He built a brick oven behind La Maison and began wholesaling his bread to area restaurants and farmer's markets. The idea took off.

"I have a huge following," Mr. Verney-Carron said.

Manuel's Bread Cafe will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner three nights a week, initially on Thursday through Saturday. The 1,500-square-foot space seats 50 patrons.

The cafe will be closed on Sundays. Manuel's Bread Cafe will have 10 employees.

The menu will feature breads and pastries, sandwiches, French Mediterranean dishes, vegetables and grilled meats. Mr. Verney-Carron said that he will use vegetables grown at Hammond's Ferry's organic Blue Clay Farm.

Mr. Simkins said he is scouting for commercial tenants at Town Center, including pizza, ice cream and coffee shops. He said that he is not looking for national retail chains because he wants the community to be unique.

He is also considering a bed and breakfast along the river.

Reach LaTina Emerson at (706) 823-3227 or latina.emerson@augustachronicle.com.