Tim Preston/The Independent
Ashland — The staff at the new Panera Bread is firing up the ovens in anticipation of a grand opening early Tuesday at Ashland Town Center.
The 4,200-square-foot store near the mall entrance next to Belk for Women and Kids will be ready for its first customers at 6:30 a.m., according to a statement released by Ashland Town Center.
“We are excited about the addition of Panera Bread to the Ashland Town Center. Their investment into the new location will be a great asset to the mall and the community,” said Ashland Town Center General Manager Merri Hurn.
Panera Bread will have several promotions during its opening week, starting with free coffee mugs including a coupon for two weeks of coffee for the first 500 patrons starting at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. patrons may register to win a free bowl of soup every week for a year or a trip to Myrtle Beach. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Panera Bread customers will have the option to purchase a “U pick 2” and receive a free $5 gift card.
“Panera Bread will be an outstanding addition to our community, and we know they will be very successful here,” said Ashland Alliance President Jim Purgerson, who added he has heard from many who are excited about the opening.
“We’ve been trying to recruit Panera Bread to Ashland for 3 1/2 years or so because of the quality of their product and what they add to the community as a different type of restaurant and bakery. It’s something, to me, that is kind of a building block that we’re trying to continue to build on with retail and restaurants,” Purgerson said, explaining the business helps make the city an attractive location for talented, young people who are looking for business such as Panera Bread in addition to specific retail stores, arts and entertainment.
“The types of stores we have are important, not only as pure economic development, but in improving quality of life. People want to locate in communities that have these type of things,” he said.
Panera Bread bakery-cafés are focused on providing outstanding customer service and an enticing menu with a wide variety of items. All bread is baked fresh daily and the restaurant also specializes in soups, sandwiches and salads, earning a devoted fan base nationwide.
Panera Bread was also recognized by The Wall Street Journal for having the highest level of customer loyalty among “quick-casual” restaurants.
For more information, visit panerabread.com or call the new store at (606) 329-0439.
TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com.
