News

Pro 'ballers open Panera on California's Central Coast

September 27, 2011

Panera Bread will open its first Ventura, Calif., bakery-café Oct, 8, co-owned by former NFL football star and current ESPN broadcaster Keyshawn Johnson. The newest bakery-cafe is located at 4910 Telephone Road and is the sixth location to open in the Central Coast area.

"My partners and I couldn't be more enthusiastic about Panera Bread opening its doors to the beautiful Central Coast community of Ventura," said Johnson, who is also the CEO of First Picks Bread Company, a Panera Bread area developer and franchisee.

Johnson will be joined by the Miami Dolphin's Reggie Bush, former NFL Wide Receiver Dennis Northcutt, nine-year NFL Veteran Anthony Henry and the Dallas Cowboy's Terence Newman.

A new Panera Bread typically creates 50 to 75 new jobs within the communities they serve.

"Investing in Panera Bread is not only a solid investment for me, it's also something I can be proud of," Bush said. "We create new jobs and opportunities from the start of construction all the way to the opening of the doors. It's great to see that energy along with the enthusiasm of so many young people who are working in a cafe that I helped to develop."

Panera Bread Ventura is partnering with two charitable programs. Through the Day End Dough-Nation program, unsold bakery products are donated to local food banks. Additionally it will support the Community Breadbox program which ensures that donations made at Panera Bread support the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Tri-Counties, which First Picks matches by 50 percent.