Panera Bread is a restaurant chain with over 1,500 bakery-cafés in the United States and Canada. The company was founded in 1983 by Ron Shaich and is based in St. Louis, Missouri, location number 1. Panera Bread regularly provides quality food at a reasonable price to its customers.
Ronald Shaich founded the company on November 16, 1983, when he purchased the St. Louis Bread Company, founded in 1931. With his start-up loan of $5,000 obtained from the St. Louis Jewish Community Center, Shaich converted the bakery into a café. The new restaurant offered baked fresh daily goods such as chicken divan and French dip sandwiches.
In 1993, Shaich purchased Au Bon Pain which had been on the verge of bankruptcy and merged it with St. Louis Bread Company to create one large cafe chain serving baked goods and full meals. The new company was named Panera Bread in honor of Panera's patron saint, Saint Honoré (Honoratus).
Along with the new business came Shaich's direction to provide higher quality baked goods such as bagels and croissants.
In 2006, Au Bon Pain was sold to the Jamba Juice Company for $215 million, with Panera Bread receiving a 7.5% share of the new company. In 2012, The St. Louis Bread Company and the St. Louis Bread Company Cafe announced that they were parting ways after decades of partnership and were planning a sale of their companies to a third party at an undisclosed price.
Today, Panera Bread has over 1,500 locations in 46 states. In 2009, Panera Bread acquired a minority stake in Paradise Bakery & Café and opened its first out-of-state restaurant at the South Coast Collection in Costa Mesa, California.
In 2013, the company announced it would begin phasing out trans fats from its products by 2016; the transition was completed on schedule. In 2014, it announced that it would cut sodium by 10 percent 2017. In 2016, the company announced it would also eliminate artificial colors from its food by 2017. It also announced plans to serve organic food at all locations, beginning in 2017.
Panera Bread gives back to charity through its Panera Cares programs, including soup kitchens and food banks.
Panera Bread
Cafe
4800 Whitesburg Dr S, Ste F Huntsville, Alabama 35802The vibe here is absolutely amazing. Manager and staff are friendly and provide excellent customer service. People like it and make it there go to for not only food but s ... more
Panera Bread
Cafe
3401 Boulevard of the Allies Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213The soup and sandwiches are definitely yummy. Customer service was great!
Panera Bread
Cafe
31960 Gratiot Avenue Roseville, Michigan 48066Yeah I never post negative reviews but the food that did end up in my bag was not in good shape - like did not get eaten bad shape. And they missed the side item when the ... more
Panera Bread
Cafe
4400 Lake Michigan Dr NW Walker, Michigan 49534Good soups
Panera Bread - Closed
Cafe, Bakery, Breakfast Restaurant
235 East 17th Street Costa Mesa, California 92627Muy hamables .
Panera Bread
Cafe
3611 Plymouth Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105The process for drive-through order pick is flawed. I placed an order using the app and went to pick it up when notified my order was ready. However, I stood in the drive ... more
Panera Bread
Cafe
211 Highland Avenue, A Seekonk, Massachusetts 02771Joined panera sip club March 6th 2020... It's 15.00 a month.. and we'll worth it ..
Panera Bread
Cafe
103 Taunton Street Plainville, Massachusetts 02762Food is good. This review is mainly for the employee who was visiting on his day off in his track suit. Completely loud and obnoxious. Went behind the counter to make jok ... more
Panera Bread
Cafe, Soup Restaurant, Bakery
809 Nicollet Mall Skyway E Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402Closed / ceased to exist
Panera Bread
Cafe
2320 Black Rock Turnpike Fairfield, Connecticut 06825Good pizza and sandwiches.
Panera Bread
Cafe
289 Huntington Avenue Boston, Massachusetts 02115Employees were too busy making jokes they completely messed up my order
Panera Bread
Cafe
46 Shops at 5 Way Plymouth, Massachusetts 02360Welcoming atmosphere and employees. There's even a small enclosed fireplace with comfy leather chairs. Great for getting some work done.
Panera Bread
Cafe
1700 Kingfisher Drive, Suite 1 Frederick, Maryland 21701Love it!! I was running late a few days ago to pick up my takeout order, and one of the guys waited after closing for me to pick up my food!! Kudos, and thank you!!
Panera Bread
Cafe
92 Derby Street, Suite 141 Hingham, Massachusetts 02043Food is always so good. I like that they have a kiosk you can order on instead of waiting it line.
Panera Bread
Cafe
2815 N Salisbury Blvd Salisbury, Maryland 21801Good stop for a quick meal. The food was good. Set up was confusing for a new customer.
Panera Bread
Cafe
3 Shining Willow Way La Plata, Maryland 20646I like the customer service and soups are really good.
Panera Bread
Cafe
285 Kentlands Boulevard Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878Ordered a toasted steak and white cheddar sandwich. Even tho it was after 6:30 on Sunday, it was still made fresh. Nicely toasted, steak well cooked and customized the ... more
Panera Bread
Cafe
825 16th Street SW Rochester, Minnesota 55902Always good , I wish coffee temp would be hotter. They are always clean inside and out.
Panera Bread
Cafe
4848 Veterans Boulevard Metairie, Louisiana 70006Very good atmosphere
Panera Bread
Cafe
3404 Nelson Road Lake Charles, Louisiana 70605Youve upped your game on the salads and we noticed!!!!!
Panera Bread
Cafe
4600 Frederica Street Owensboro, Kentucky 42301we came to the Panera bread in Owensboro to order. My daughter wanted a green goddess sandwich which is on a baguette. As so was my husband, we went to the counter to ord ... more
Panera Bread
Cafe
650 Main Avenue, (Route 7) Norwalk, Connecticut 06851I ordered the chicken chipotle sandwich and am highly disappointed! I advise everyone that goes here, Norwalk CT location, to double check their order. This is the 2nd ti ... more
Panera Bread
Cafe
8055 Haven Avenue Rancho Cucamonga, California 91730The food is consistent and tasty. Portions can be a bit small but filling
Panera Bread
Cafe
8803 West 75th Street Overland Park, Kansas 66204Over priced hardly ever good
Panera Bread
Cafe
11022 Metcalf Avenue Overland Park, Kansas 66210Panera Bread
Cafe
5525 Merle Hay Road, Suite 100 Johnston, Iowa 50131Panera Bread
Cafe
1315 E Ireland Rd South Bend, Indiana 46614Get the Sip Club if you come here often!
Panera Bread
Cafe
1941 S Reed Road Kokomo, Indiana 46902Service was Fast and Friendly Food was amazing
Panera Bread
Cafe
100 West Higgins Road, at Route 59 and 72 South Barrington, Illinois 60010A lovely place for breakfast & meal. Wide options. Has one or two vegetarian options too. But ensure that the salads & soups don't have any broth in it.
Panera Bread
Cafe
220 N Burkhardt Rd Evansville, Indiana 47715Great tasting food. Fast service and clean every time I eat there.
Panera Bread
Cafe
1837 Homer Adams Parkway, Suite B Alton, Illinois 62002Great place for a sandwich
Panera Bread
Cafe
1101 W Bird Boulevard Peoria, Illinois 61615Love the cheesy broccoli soup.
Panera Bread
Cafe
501 East Hamilton Avenue Campbell, California 95008I ordered the Stacked chicken green goddess baguette. I opened the sandwich the tomatoes fell onto my shirt I took one bite and noticed they forgot to put the chicken on ... more
Panera Bread
Cafe
148 S Allen St State College, Pennsylvania 16801seriously arrogant people work at that place, I placed my order, some pastries to go, food to eat there, we get a table, place my bag with food, buzzer goes off, I go to ... more
Panera Bread
Cafe
12293 East Iliff Avenue Aurora, Colorado 80014Just had an Interesting breakfast item: Hot Ham, egg and cheese on a cinnamon bagel. Tasty treat.
Panera Bread
Cafe
6683 Edwardsville Crossing Edwardsville, Illinois 62025Order a steak, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich on 5/13.. Your location served me a sandwich with an egg half raw, the cheese missing, and steak on a tiny portion of the ... more
Panera Bread
Cafe
1337 W Henderson Avenue Porterville, California 93257I had the mango smoothie. If you love mangos you will like this...
Panera Bread
Cafe
3340 Mall Loop Drive, #1086 Joliet, Illinois 60431Good food but has gotten very expensive. Inside feels too cramped. Hard to walk through tables to get to drink area.
Panera Bread
Cafe
200 Doug Baker Blvd, Suite 100 Birmingham, Alabama 35242Broccoli cheese soup bowl is my favorite.
Panera Bread
Cafe, Bakery, Breakfast Restaurant
154 W Wilson St Batavia, Illinois 60510Great place to get coffee and lunch. But also a good amount of seating overall. Well priced too. Food was awesome Services was great. Affordable place.
Panera Bread
Cafe
1056 E Hospitality Lane San Bernardino, California 92408People are nice but they are always behind and are never stocked up. The drive thru line wait time is 9/10 times insanely long times 25+ min. Inside you have to wait in l ... more
Panera Bread
Cafe
7349 Lake Street River Forest, Illinois 60305No sesame bagels. No stars.
Panera Bread
Cafe
2917 South 74th Street Fort Smith, Arkansas 72903Today was my first time eating here and I definitely wasn't disappointed. I had always heard it was expensive but compared to the 18 dollar omelette at IHOP this place wa ... more
Panera Bread
Cafe
1000 Bald Hill Road Warwick, Rhode Island 02886Ordered, was dining in and while I was waiting for my order I decided to get my drink. There wasnt enough hot water to fill my cup for tea. I alerted the staff about the ... more
Panera Bread
Cafe
1000 Division Street East Greenwich, Rhode Island 02818Acceptable, a bit pricey for what it is.
Panera Bread
Cafe
9611 Skokie Boulevard Skokie, Illinois 60077After being treated rudely and hung up on by Emma's Bagels, I called into Panera Bread where I had the pleasure of speaking to Sophia. She was patient and courteous in ta ... more
Panera Bread
Cafe
2415 Tarpon Bay Blvd, Unit 5 Naples, Florida 34119The pizza sandwich was kinda dry. Customer service was good from cashier. But for whatever reason they never called our order. The bathroom here looks and smells worst th ... more
Panera Bread
Cafe
160 River Road, Unit 102 Lisbon, Connecticut 06351Called asked if they had soup said 1030 drive all the way there 30 min just for them to say there no soup waste of my time and gas money highly dont recommend waste of ti ... more
Panera Bread
Cafe
903 Hartford Turnpike Waterford, Connecticut 06385I am not a frequent visitor to Panera, so I stood around for a minute trying to figure out how to order. Lol. Once we ordered, we only waited 7 to 10 minutes for our food ... more
Panera Bread
Cafe
1825 Sugar Exchange Prattville, Alabama 36066Order 2 bagel and 2 drinks. Took a seat and waited about 15 minutes. Saw people who came in after us get their orders. Went to counter to ask and they apparently just igo ... more
