(No caption)
Drive around Detroit's suburbs and it's easy to spot Panera Bread restaurants. Now the national chain is finally coming to Detroit.
Panera opens Thursday in the Renaissance Center in a 4,429-square-foot space on Level A of the GM Wintergarden, Serena Maria Daniels posts at Metro Times.
“We’re thrilled that Panera has chosen the GM RenCen as its first Detroit location," said a news announcement from the building's development manager Claudia Killeen. "Whether you’re looking for a dinner, lunch or a bagel in the morning, the new bakery-cafe will be a great dining destination for the thousands of people who work in and visit . . . every day.”
Interestingly, just as an aside, the chain lists what it takes to be a franchisee:
The future growth of Panera Bread will be based upon company bakery-cafe development as well as the continued sale of franchise area development agreements.
Panera Bread does not sell single-unit franchises, so it is not possible to open just one bakery-cafe. Rather, we have chosen to develop by selling market areas which require the franchise developer to open a number of units, typically 15 bakery-cafes in a period of 6 years.
Panera Bread franchises must be well-capitalized to open great bakery-cafes and meet this aggressive development schedule. Additionally, they must have a proven track record as excellent multi-unit restaurant operators to operate great Panera Bread bakery-cafes.
Qualification Criteria (Domestic)
Applicants must meet these criteria to gain consideration for a Panera Bread franchise:Experience as a multi-unit restaurant operator
Recognition as a top restaurant operator
Net worth of $7.5 million
Liquid assets of $3 million
Infrastructure and resources to meet our development schedule
Real estate experience in the market to be developed
Total commitment to the development of the Panera Bread brand
Cultural fit and a passion for fresh bread
