PARSIPPANY — Panera Bread, Troy Hills Shopping Center, is almost ready to open for business. The scheduled date was Friday, June 19 but according to their corporate office, they experienced unforseen delays.
The Parsippany Panera Bread will offer outdoor seating as well as a drive thru.
It was one year ago on June 18, 2014 that Panera Bread received preliminary site plan from the Parsippany-Troy Hills Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Parsippany Focus learned from a reliable source, Panera Bread will be open to the public on Tuesday, June 30. On Monday, June 29, by invitation friends and family are invited to a pre-grand opening.
The Panera Bread legacy began in 1981 as Au Bon Pain Co., Inc. Founded by Louis Kane and Ron Shaich, the company prospered along the east coast of the United States and internationally throughout the 1980s and 1990s and became the dominant operator within the bakery-cafe category.
In 1993, Au Bon Pain Co., Inc. purchased Saint Louis Bread Company®, a chain of 20 bakery-cafes located in the St. Louis area.
The company then managed a comprehensive re-staging of Saint Louis Bread Co. Between 1993 and 1997 average unit volumes increased by 75%. Ultimately the concept’s name was changed to Panera Bread.
By 1997, it was clear that Panera Bread had the potential to become one of the leading brands in the nation. In order for Panera Bread to reach its potential, it would require all of the company’s financial and management resources.
In May 1999, all of Au Bon Pain Co., Inc.’s business units were sold, with the exception of Panera Bread, and the company was renamed Panera Bread. Since those transactions were completed, the company’s stock has grown thirteen-fold and over $1 billion in shareholder value has been created. Panera Bread was recognized as one of Business Week’s “100 Hot Growth Companies.” As reported by The Wall Street Journal’s Shareholder Scorecard in 2006, Panera Bread was named as the top performer in the restaurant category for one-, five- and ten-year returns to shareholders.
In 2007, Panera Bread purchased a majority stake in Paradise Bakery & Café®, a Phoenix-based concept with over 70 locations in 10 states (predominantly in the west and southwest). The Company purchased the balance of Paradise in June 2009.
In May 2010, Ron Shaich transitioned to the role of Executive Chairman of the Board and Bill Moreton, who had previously served as the company’s Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Operating Officer, was named Chief Executive Officer and President and to the Board of Directors. In March 2012, to signify their partnership and shared commitment to Panera, the company announced that Ron Shaich and Bill Moreton would share the title of CEO. Shaich served as Chairman of the Board and co-CEO and Moreton as President and co-CEO until July 2013. In August 2013, Moreton was named Executive Vice Chairman to help oversee Panera’s business operations; he serves as a member of the Board of Directors. Shaich continues to serve as Chairman of the Board and CEO.
As of April 30, 2014, there are 1,800 bakery-cafes in 45 states and in Ontario Canada operating under the Panera Bread®, Saint Louis Bread Co.® and Paradise Bakery & Café® names, delivering fresh, authentic artisan bread served in a warm environment by engaging associates.
Currently, the closest location to Parsippany is at 3056 Route 10 West, The Shoppes at Union Hill, Denville and 804 Bloomfield Avenue, West Caldwell.
There is also another Panera Bread under construction on Route 10 in East Hanover.
A judge in Atlantic County has just held that public agencies cannot sue records requestors for declarations that the records sought are not subject to the Open Public Records Act (OPRA). The court affirmed that only the requestor can sue under OPRA and awarded attorney’s fees to the defendant-requestor!
