Sandwiches, soups, coffees — and the sweet aromas that come with it.
That’s what travelers on State Road 54 will find beginning Nov. 7 with the opening of the area’s newest Panera Bread.
Located at 23388 State Road 54, not far from the 7-Eleven, this is the fourth Panera Bread to open in Pasco County, bringing jobs to 60 managers, bakers and associates.
“Our concept has been embraced throughout Pasco County for nearly a decade, and we look forward to sharing our signature Panera warmth here in Lutz,” said Dee Pallardy, a joint venture partner with Panera Bread, in a statement. “Panera is thrilled to open our newest Tampa-area bakery café in such a dynamic community.”
The new Panera Bread will become one of more than 1,700 such stores in North America. Last year, the company opened 123 new locations around the country, and pacing themselves at about 30 a quarter.
Panera Bread started in 1981 as Au Bon Pain Co., changing its name to Panera Bread in the late 1990s. Now it’s earning $1.7 billion in revenue so far this year alone, up 11 percent from last year.
Its primary competitors are Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts, both of which dwarf Panera Bread when it comes to number of locations and revenue. Starbucks has nearly 21,000 locations worldwide, while Dunkin’ Donuts boasts 15,000.
The new location on State Road 54 will feature a drive-thru, only the second one in the region to have that after the Panera Bread location on West Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Tampa.
For more information about Panera Bread, its menu and hours, visit PaneraBread.com.
