Panera Opens Downtown, Offers Community Support

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Panera bread is now open downtown on 211 N. 12th Street. The bakery-café officially opened on July 22nd and is the first Panera in Nebraska to serve in a downtown location.  According to Panera’s General Manger, Aylin Karmazin, this specific location is only the third Panera in the country to benefit from a new and enhanced building model.  This includes new colors, patterns, tile, seating arrangements and even a fireplace. 

“We are extremely excited to open our unique downtown location in a place that is so close to numerous attractions such as the movie theatre, University and Children’s Museum,” said Karmazin.

Karmazin is also thrilled about Panera’s commitment to the local community.  “Yesterday, ten percent of our sales were donated to the Lincoln Food Bank,” said Karmazin.  This Panera location will also take advantage of Operation Dough-Nation, a commitment by Panera’s leaders to ensure that every purchase at Panera Bread feeds back into the community through programs that include the donation of unsold bread at the day’s end to local hunger relief agencies. 

Karmazin stated that in 2007, Panera collectively donated a retail value of more than 40 million dollars worth of bread and baked goods. Karmazin is still looking for more Lincoln support agencies to receive their downtown store’s bread donations. 

Panera Bread’s downtown location offers hand-crafted, artisan breads baked every morning from fresh dough, as well as an assortment of other menu options highlighted by antibiotic free chicken, whole grain bread, select organic and all-natural ingredients and a menu with 0 grams artificial trans fat per serving.  In addition to Panera’s dine-in experience, the downtown location will also offer catering and delivery.

The Arbor Day Foundation, which owns Arbor Day Plaza at 211 North 12th, received financing from Downtown Civic Ventures to help renovate the first floor for Panera Bread’s needs. Downtown Civic Ventures is a 501(c)(3) organization formed several years ago to promote downtown business development.

If you would like to contact Panera, call 402.435.0837 or visit www.panerabread.com.