The former Victoria’s Secret site at the corner of West 85th Street and Broadway has sat vacant since it shuttered last November. A spokesperson from Meridian Retail Leasing confirmed with ILTUWS that Panera Bread has signed on to take over the southern half, roughly 2,500 square feet of the space. Panera is expected to open in 2023.
Advertisement
Something is better than nothing, but it’s hard to say how many Upper West Siders will celebrate the arrival of Panera Bread, the American bakery-café chain with more than 2,000 locations across the United States and Canada.
If you care (we can’t imagine why you would), Panera recently opened its first Panera To Go in Chicago, the first take-out only Panera in the country. The company has plans to open two more this year in California and Washington, D.C.
READ MORE: Buttercup Bake Shop Returning to Upper West Side!
Panera Bread currently operates four locations in Manhattan (downtown to Bryant Park).
Breakfast is served until 10:30 a.m., with options including breakfast sandwiches like an avocado, egg white and spinach on a roll. There are also whole-grain wraps, baked egg soufflés, parfaits, fruit cups and oatmeal to complement its coffee, hot tea and hot chocolate. Bagels, croissants and treats like a vanilla cinnamon roll and bear claw round out this menu.
For lunch and dinner, Panera’s menu has grown to feature soups, macaroni and cheese, flatbread pizzas, salads, bakery options and warm bowls. The Featured Faves section of Panera’s website showcases The Signature Take Chicken Sandwich, The Spicy Take Chicken Sandwich and The Strawberry Poppyseed Salad with Chicken.
READ MORE: Friend of a Farmer, Pioneer in Farm-to-Table Dining, Opening UWS Location
Advertisement
Drinks on the Featured Faves include the Strawberry Lemon-Mint With Guarana and Caffeine, the Fuji Apple Cranberry With Guarana and Caffeine, and a Frozen Strawberry Lemonade. If those sound exciting, you might like to know that for $10.99 a month, you can join MyPanera, where you can try exclusive new Charged Lemonades and get free refills on drinks every two hours, all while scoring exclusive reward points with access to special perks. The first month is free to try. The growing convenience of ordering through your phone saves time waiting in line.
This area of Broadway has seen a lot of vacancies as of late, but times might be changing. In March, Playa Bowls — purveyors of super fruit bowls, smoothies and juices — took over the space left behind by Origins.
We’ll keep you posted once we get a better score of when Panera plans to open.
Why the shade?! Surely this is a good addition to the neighborhood… if it was Starbucks or dunkin would you say the same thing?
I have been waiting for Panera’s to open on the UWS. In fact, I wonder if my letter to them about a year ago, suggesting that they do so, had anything to do with their decision. (I doubt it, but it’s fun to think about.) Among other things, they make the BEST cherry danish in the world!! Can’t wait for them to open!
I also do not comprehend the undertone of the author. Personally I am thrilled that Panera will be in the UWS – it is a valuable addition to the neighborhood. Further, I do care (and was fascinated) by the opening of a “takeout only” location. I’ll make sure I visit the next time I’m in Chicago.
That’s better than nothing.
You sure about that? I once had to throw out sandwiches and salads for 4 people that were so bad, nothing would have actually tasted better.
Also, Zabars, Orwashers, Paris Baguette, Fairway, Whole Foods, and more bakeries than I can count on both hands.
Their bread is not bad, but we’re NYC.
I am sorry you had that experience. But a singular bad experience should not sour you to the entire enterprise. I have been a Panera customer for years, and have never had a bad experience there – whether in NYC, Washington DC or elsewhere. I find their food to be some degrees healthier than their competitors, and find their soups, sandwiches and salads in particular to be very good. And, of course, they make the best cherry danish on the planet.
Bobby….you should go to a Panera before you trash it! They will be a welcome addition with great and healthy food options. There is a reason why this St. Louis based company has 2000 stores and it is not because they are better than nothing. My 2 adult children…and my wife spent 20 years in Stl before moving to NY and go to Panera whenever we get back. Try before you trash!
The MyPanera program is fabulous. For that small fee, which they will often waive, you get unlimited coffee or tea for a month (because free refills). I’ve been hoping for that near me, and now it will be just a couple of blocks away!
Was looking at their menu and they have a great selection of soups. I used to go to Hale & Hearty when they had an UWS location in the 80’s on Broadway. That chain is now gone. But for me, it will be nice to be able to get a nice soup for lunch and dinner. Not just the usual chicken noodle or split pea that all the diners have.