Panera Bread opening its doors Monday
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on June 28, 2015 1:50 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Panera is scheduled to open Monday. Those who have been waiting to have a meal at the restaurant can start with breakfast at 6 a.m.
The wait is almost over.
Panera Bread will open its Goldsboro location Monday at 6 a.m. at 802 N. Berkeley Blvd.
Construction on the cafe and bakery-style restaurant began in early 2015.
"We are thrilled to open our newest bakery-cafe in Goldsboro," said Joe Montgomery, a joint venture partner with Panera Bread. "Our concept has been embraced by many surrounding communities over the past 10 years, and we look forward to sharing our signature Panera warmth here in Goldsboro."
Panera's Goldsboro location has hired 85 employees, and will be open from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. every day, District Manager Justin Long said.
Residents of Goldsboro have had their sights set on bringing a Panera Bread to Goldsboro for quite some time. There is even a Facebook page called "Bring Panera Bread to Goldsboro," and its sole purpose was to rally support to bring the restaurant here.
The page was created on June 1, 2012 -- a full two years before the Goldsboro City Council announced that the company had submitted site plans with the city's planning department.
Panera Bread opened its first location in 1987 in Kirkwood, Mo. The company is best known for its aggressive stance toward artificial preservatives and ingredients.
All food at Panera Bread also contains no trans fats, artificial colors, sweeteners, flavors and preservatives, and the chicken used by the restaurant is raised without the use of antibiotics.
The company has something called a "no-no list" that lists 81 ingredients it refuses to put in its food, or is in the process of removing from its food, because the company believes them to be potentially detrimental to human health.