Panera Bread has announced the opening of its 1,500th bakery-cafe and its first in Manhattan at Seventh Avenue and 29th Street.
The company also has announced the opening of three other Manhattan bakery-cafes that are expected to open in 2012. They will be located on East 86th Street, Fifth Avenue at 40th Street and Union Square.
"We are thrilled to be celebrating two milestones today -- the opening of our 1,500th bakery-cafe, as well as Panera's entry into the food mecca that is Manhattan," said Ron Shaich, Panera Bread founder and executive chairman. " Not only are we excited about opening our 1,500th bakery-cafe but we're pleased about joining four neighborhoods across Manhattan over the coming months."
Panera Bread operates 90 bakery-cafes in the Tri-State area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, and has additional locations in Boston, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and Toronto.
"Having been successful in some of the country's largest cities, we felt it was time for us to be in Manhattan," Shaich said. "We are excited to step onto the world's biggest and most varied culinary stage."
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