About this location
A few stories people tell about this place
1. One morning, while sipping coffee and reading the paper, a regular asked Panera’s manager, ‘Why does that same delivery driver always park in front of our table?’ The manager smiled and replied, 'That's because he lives across the street.' The regular nodded thoughtfully, then exclaimed, 'Oh my goodness! No wonder he's so friendly!' And from that day on, every morning began with warm greetings and fresh baked goods.
2. One day, as a delivery driver was unloading pastries from his truck near Panera Bread, he noticed something unusual in one of the boxes—a tiny ceramic cat wearing a chef's hat. Curious passersby started stopping to take photos, and soon enough, the little feline became an unexpected mascot for the bakery. Soon, every morning brought new visitors hoping to catch sight of ‘Chef Cat’—as she came to be known. The bakery’s sales skyrocketed, but no one could explain where Chef Cat kept appearing from. One day, a regular customer joked that maybe they should hire her full-time, and everyone burst out laughing. That night, someone left a note on the door: 'Dear Panera, please don’t fire Chef Cat—she’s our secret ingredient!'
3. In the early afternoon, when Panera's doors were just opening, a small dog ran into the bakery, sniffing around the display cases. The staff watched in amusement as he approached the fresh-baked bread section, then suddenly sat down and began politely waiting for someone to notice him. Soon enough, one of the bakers noticed the little fellow and gently picked him up. Turns out, it was a neighborhood stray that frequented Panera every day—everyone knew him by now. With a smile, an older lady from next door arrived, carrying his favorite treat—a whole wheat bagel with cream cheese. ‘He’s our little regular,’ she said, ruffling his fur. The staff laughed, knowing that no matter how many customers came or went, some things never change.’
4. At dusk, a little girl entered Panera with her eyes wide open in wonder. She pointed excitedly towards the ceiling, where an unusual shadow seemed to move on its own. Suddenly, she giggled and whispered, ‘It’s just Grandma waving from heaven!’ The baker smiled knowingly and said, ‘She visits us every evening.’ A regular nodded, adding, ‘And don’t tell anyone, but sometimes I see Santa delivering cookies too.’