The East Valley will get its first Panera Bread next week when the St. Louis-based chain opens a bakery-cafe on the northeast corner of Arizona Avenue and Ocotillo in south Chandler.
Panera Bread, which is scheduled to open its Chandler location Monday, sells 16 kinds of freshly baked bread, ranging from sourdough to cinnamon raisin swirl.
The cafe menu includes bagels and breakfast sandwiches in the morning, and sandwiches, panini, and soup in bread bowls for lunch and dinner.
In 2007, Panera purchased a majority stake in Valley-based Paradise Bakery & Café, which has more than 70 locations in 10 states. It bought the rest of Paradise in 2009.
Panera opened its first Valley location in Phoenix last month. It also has three stores in Tucson.
