Panera Bread scraps plan for Corporate location, looks to Jefferson

Published Jul 3, 2012 at 10:00 am (Updated Jul 3, 2012)

Despite extensive negotiations, the Panera Bread franchise that was slated for a Corporate Boulevard location next to MidSouth Bank has been nixed because of pre-existing development restrictions at Towne Center, says franchisee Tom Krings. "And the landlord wasn't aware of those restrictions, and he couldn't lease to us," Krings says. Whole Foods has a contractual exclusion that prevents a bakery from going into operation near Towne Center, Krings says, adding that Whole Foods was willing to make an exception for Panera Bread. However, the owners of the Towne Center never addressed the issue in legal documents, Krings says, which ultimately "just killed the deal." He says he's now working on opening a Panera Bread on a parcel on Jefferson Highway located just south of Calvin's Bocage Market. Krings has 19 Panera Bread franchises across Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina, and says he's opening a location in Metairie on July 17 and another in Covington on Aug. 26. His long-term goal is to establish about 15 franchise stores across south Louisiana. A planned Baton Rouge location was first reported in November 2010. —Adam Pearson