Panera Bread to Open Wednesday February 8th
By Wes Emory
The new Panera Bread store located in front of the Greenwood Mall is set to open its doors on Wednesday, February 8th, per sources. The new restaurant will feature a drive-thru as well as dine in spaces. Panera Bread will offer pastries, bread, coffee, soups and salads, as well as other entrees, to customers and students looking for a new study space. Also included will be a breakfast menu. They will also offer gift cards.
Founded in 1981 as Au Bon Pain Co., the company, started by founder Ron Shaich, has been in the bread café business for 35+ years. In 2016, they underwent the process of becoming a “clean restaurant”, doing away with all “artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavors and no colors from artificial sources”, according to the company website. The brand is now one of the healthiest chains in the industry, boasting over 2,000 stores in 46 states, as well as the District of Columbia and Canada. The brand also owns both Saint Louis Bread Co. and Paradise Bakery & Café.
The restaurant will also provide catering. At the end of the day, all left over bread products are donated to local shelters to provide for those in need. On top of good food, the company also believes in community involvement, placing an emphasis on animal welfare, cutting the use of antibiotics in their products, as well as Panera Cares Restaurants located in select cities that provide food at no cost to those in need. They also believe in a “customer first” policy, and will do their best to make your time at Panera a great one, per the company website.
