Panera Bread Planning 20-25 New Locations in Central Ohio

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Panera Bread Planning 20-25 New Locations in Central Ohio

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Started 1 year ago by News
Latest reply from Pablo

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News
Columbus Underground
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Panera Bread planning to open Licking County location
Aug 28, 2011
Written by
Seth Roy
Advocate Reporter

HEATH -- Panera Bread is coming to Licking County, but a spokesman couldn't confirm exactly where Friday.

"We're looking at so many locations down there. I don't know the exact physical presence or space," said Allen Ryan, with Warren-based Panera franchisee Covelli Enterprises. "I don't even think there's been a lease executed yet."

The company, which owns more than 200 Panera restaurants, is planning to open a number of new restaurants in and around Columbus.

"Our belief is that there's room for another 20 or 25 locations in central Ohio," Ryan said.

READ MORE: http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20110828/NEWS01/108280301/Panera-Bread-planning-open-Licking-County-location

Posted 1 year ago #
Pablo
Crestview Addition
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The former Cooker restaurant (near the Varsity Club on Lane Ave.) is being renovated to become a Panera.

Posted 1 year ago #
arualpalm

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20-25 more locations? Ehhhh - you can have too much of a good thing.

Posted 1 year ago #
gramarye
In Exile
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You can, but Panera is a long way from saturation point yet. I think there's probably a long-term potential there for maybe 3,000+ U.S. stores. They've got between 1,000 and 1,500 right now, I think. Chipotle had a similar period of explosive growth (and is still growing, for that matter), and their rapid expansion managed not to dilute the cachet of the brand too much.

Posted 1 year ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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I've often though that a Downtown Panera would probably do pretty well. Maybe in the empty spot in the Huntington Building.

Posted 1 year ago #
gramarye
In Exile
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I'm actually somewhat jealous. Covelli Enterprises is a northeast Ohio (Youngstown) business, but hasn't shown much interest in siting a Panera in downtown Akron. Closest one we've got is in a strip center out in suburbanesque West Akron.

Posted 1 year ago #
jpizzow
Above the American Apparel building
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I could see a Panera working somewhere in the Arena District, perhaps within one of the proposed office buildings on Nationwide and Front. It would be nice to see one facing the arena with patio seating. It's kind of a no-brainer with the amount of office workers, tourists, Jackets fans, concert goers, festivals and the growing number of residents in the area walking down those streets on any given day.

Posted 1 year ago #
buckeyesd

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I'd prefer corporate panera over Covelli. They thrash their employees, take away benefits, and disrupt the casualness of a panera work place. Not to mention corporate pays their employees better.

Covelli = money hungry non caring work environment

Posted 1 year ago #
DavidF
Elysium Fields
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In the week I've been working in Chillicothe, I've had several customers mention two places they had been hoping would go into the new strip center where my store is. The first is Five Guys. The second is Panera.

I've been really impressed with the amount of retail activity down there and think either one of them would do really well down there.

Posted 1 year ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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DavidF said:
I've been really impressed with the amount of retail activity down there and think either one of them would do really well down there.

Heh. Last time I drove through Chillicothe I was disappointed that all the retail activity had shifted from their cool historic Downtown into the strip mall stretch just north of town. :(

http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/micropolitan-statistical-areas-in-ohio

Posted 1 year ago #
groundrules

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I still miss the panera in gahanna, which was walking distance from my office. Crazy Goat & J. Gumbos have only partially filled the niche, but downtown gahanna is still lacking a deli sandwich.

Posted 1 year ago #
DavidF
Elysium Fields
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Walker said:
Heh. Last time I drove through Chillicothe I was disappointed that all the retail activity had shifted from their cool historic Downtown into the strip mall stretch just north of town. :(

http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/micropolitan-statistical-areas-in-ohio

Well Chillicothe is no different than almost any other town in that regard. Including Columbus. I think you overlooked what is going on in the downtown and only saw what wasn't there. Compared to years past, the downtown has undergone a significant revival.

Posted 1 year ago #
Twixlen
The Weston District
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jpizzow said:
I could see a Panera working somewhere in the Arena District, perhaps within one of the proposed office buildings on Nationwide and Front. It would be nice to see one facing the arena with patio seating. It's kind of a no-brainer with the amount of office workers, tourists, Jackets fans, concert goers, festivals and the growing number of residents in the area walking down those streets on any given day.

Or, ya know, in one of the still-empty-never-been-filled-spaces that already exist in the AD.

Posted 1 year ago #
GCrites80s
5xNW
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Pantera rules.

Posted 1 year ago #
sundown060
Merion Village/Gahanna
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Pablo said:
The former Cooker restaurant (near the Varsity Club on Lane Ave.) is being renovated to become a Panera.

Hopefully this is the start of a more permanent tenant for that space...

Posted 1 year ago #
jpizzow
Above the American Apparel building
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Twixlen said:
Or, ya know, in one of the still-empty-never-been-filled-spaces that already exist in the AD.

They could fill the "point" of the Arena Crossing apts. at Vine and Front. There is already a patio and plenty of space inside. Obviously, the rent is through the roof though because that place has a prime location but has been vacant since the buildings were constructed. Not saying it would be any cheaper in a new building facing the arena. Just a thought though with all of the foot traffic.

Posted 1 year ago #
jpizzow
Above the American Apparel building
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GCrites80s said:
Pantera rules.

+1

Posted 1 year ago #
Pablo
Crestview Addition
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sundown060 said:
Hopefully this is the start of a more permanent tenant for that space...

Either that or a Mr. Egg. Both would be successful.

Posted 1 year ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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DavidF said:
Well Chillicothe is no different than almost any other town in that regard. Including Columbus. I think you overlooked what is going on in the downtown and only saw what wasn't there. Compared to years past, the downtown has undergone a significant revival.

Good to hear. I'm not in that area that often, but I'm always amazed at how big and beautiful their Downtown buildings are. Any type of revival is good news.

Posted 1 year ago #
bman
New Albany
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jpizzow said:
+1

The cinnamon crunch bagel is da bomb with hazelnut cream cheese!

Posted 1 year ago #