The vacant site off Airport Road S.E. where Panera Bread Café is to be built.
As expected when a big sign went up in the spring, the Albany Planning Division has now received a site plan for the construction of a Panera Bread Café.
The restaurant is to be built at 320 Airport Road S.E., where the vacant building housing the former Tom Tom Restaurant was demolished in December 2012.
The plans submitted to the city by Panera’s architects, from Grand Rapids, Mich., show the proposed Panera building along with a drive-through, landscaping and 46 new parking spaces.
As usual, the city mailed a notice of the plans to property owners within 300 feet. The application will be reviewed by the planning staff. The property is zoned for regional commercial use, and approval by the planning commission won’t be needed.
The application had been expected since at least April, when the city issued a sign permit for the property. When the sign went up, it announced that Panera would be open there in the spring of 2019. A story to that effect appeared here on June 10. (hh)
There’s no business like dough business
Like no business I know!
Clever, J. Jacobson. Yes, it takes “dough” to stay in dough business or “show” business, for that matter! The newest restaurants in downtown Albany won’t make it. I’ve been to two of them recently to check them out. I was the only customer in the place for most of the time I was dining there. You have to have customers bringing in the “dough.”
But downtown has nice streets and benches and lights!
Panera Bread will do great in that location and provide jobs, and they know they will do great before they submit for the permits to build.
I am happy for that property to be used again! It should be a prime location with Kohl’s, Winco, the several fast food places & Costco. Not much call for me to go downtown except for my church & beauty shop being there.
Hopefully, the Tom Tom sign will go away! I have never patronized Panera Bread but will give it a try!