A new Panera Bread opens in Manatee this week with a special offer for customers

Panera Bread’s first Parrish restaurant is set to open Wednesday with a special offer for first customers.

It will be the fifth store for the national bakery and cafe chain in Manatee County.

To commemorate the opening of new Parrish storeat 8980 U.S. 301 North #102, the first 50 guests on Wednesday and Thursday will receive a year’s worth of bagels and cream cheese.

Menu items such as bagels, pastries, bread, muffins, cookies, salads, soups and sandwiches are staples of Panera Bread, which started in 1987 as the St. Louis Bread Company, according to company history.

The Parrish location is open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. It will have indoor and outdoor dining options, digital ordering and mobile pick-up lane convenience, plus drive-thru, pick-up, delivery and catering options.

“We are thrilled to be opening the first Panera in Parrish,” area operating partner Dinesh Ramroop said. “We are excited to grow our presence in this wonderful community and look forward to delivering the great tasting food and impeccable service our Tampa/St Petersburg guests have come to expect from Panera.”

A sixth Manatee County Panera Bread location is planned for 8546 Heritage Green Way, Bradenton, according to paperwork filed by the company. Plans for the restaurant are still in review, and an opening date has not been set.

Panera Bread opens Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 8980 U.S. 301 North #102 in Parrish, Florida. The bakery/cafe will be open 6 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.
Panera Bread opens Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 8980 U.S. 301 North #102 in Parrish, Florida. The bakery/cafe will be open 6 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.