Yes! When we travel Paner's is the one place we know we can get a good salad and soup combo with sandwiches as well. I think it's very exciting. We even talked about checking into wether or not it is a franchise and opening one ourselves.
Where- the right place is here.

this would be so nice to have one of these in the area.. love them

I love you Gretchen for mentioning Joe's Crab Shack. Only in our dreams. We need a good seafood restaurant here. I mean REAL seafood.

Agree on the need for a Trader Joe's. Love that store.

It really disturbs me that so many people want to make "up north" feel like downstate! We have wonderful restaurants, bakeries, breweries and wineries ... all unique to norther Michigan. Why do we need to add another chain when we have such great places to eat like the GT Pie Company and many other local restaurants? Let's not forget what how generous and involved these businesses are to our community, would Panera provide anything like that, I think probably not.

What has happened to take care of our own in TC? This big chain will take away business from the locals and may put them out of business. OH there goes the unemployment satistics again. Do we really want to continue to put small businesses in jeopardy?

Shame on US!

What new steak house is coming to the old TC Traders near Cherryland Mall?

Who cares? It is amazing to me that I, much less, all of these people, are even commenting. As far as East Bay, you cannot even safely access any of the eateries without risking your life due to heavy traffic. We live in a congested mess and all we can think about is another chain restaurant. TC has lost its charm and up North status. It is sad that folks who have moved here in the last 10-15 years from downstate want to replicate downstate.

Sounds wonderful!Panera is great!
Really need a Trader Joe's though.......can't have a real foodie town without one !

Panera would do well near the new Culvers in East Bay.
Need a Starbucks in Acme, catching all the drive by traffic.
Popeyes would do well. Noodle shop downtown.
Whole Foods is my dream come true, Oryana's food is sub standard to Whole Foods.

Would love to see a Panera Bread along with a Trader Joe's and a Texas Road House - all on the East side, Airport Road/Garfield area.

No Thank you! We have too many bread stores in the area and not enough people to support them,(Stone house bread and G.T.bagel & Bakery both closed in T.C.just this year)I myself rarely eat at a chain store,even when I travel,I would rather try a local place over the chain.and If they do put one in they should utilize a vacant storefront rather than break ground on a new space.

I think us 31 up bythe chums corner area, because it is the easiest to get to , and in and out of. So many places are already congested enough.

I've been hoping for years for Panera to come to TC, and I agree that the east side of town could use a coffee shop and bakery. Perhaps a Longhorn Steakhouse, too?

I love Panera! I hope they come to TC. As much as I like GT Pie Co and many of the other local restaurants mentioned here, most of them are tiny establishments with lines out the door during busy hours. And as for calling it "fat people food", Panera offers fresh fruit, salads, low-fat soups and whole grain breads.

I get sick everytime I eat there

All of you that wish for a Trader Joe's... Did you know that Aldi's is their parent company? I don't think we'll be getting a Trader Joe's any time soon.

We have many wonderful establishments that have what Panera Bread offers. Why not have a "Flat Top Grill" or even thd "Cheesecake Factory" come to town.

Panera would be fine on the east side of town, but a TRADER JOES would be better !!!!

Don't want it, don't need it. GT Pie Company is all we need. They have two locations, it's tastier than Panera and it's local. I like that TC has such a huge array of local restaurants to choose from and don't wish to see any go out of business from being over populized by chain restaurants which don't offer the quality you see in our restaurants here.

Mixed feelings. The tourists will visit there obviously due to familiarity and location. It'll also be frequented by locals who enjoy their offerings. I'm not sure how much it round out the local food scene, but to each their own. I'll still support local shops and stores over chain stores. Also, I'm gathering their proposed locations will be better suited to their target audience anyway. So let them come I say...plus a plug for Trader Joe's and/or Chipotle if they are listening or reading.

Approve!!! As a transplant from the Metro Detroit area, I miss Panera Bread dearly

Hopefully it will be on the east side of town. The west side has a glut of chains. I agree, a Trader Joe's would be ideal.

I get the impression some folks think Panera Bread is a "bread place." It's not. It's a lunch restaurant--yes, they have bread, but the emphasis is on lunch--sandwiches, soups, salds, etc. There is no comparison to Potter's or Bay Bread since those places are bakeries and Panera is not. Panera is more like GT Pie Co., though GTPC has more extensive dessert/pie/baked offerings.

East side please.
I'd also love to see a Trader Joe's.

We have Bay Bread and Potter's and Pie Co. all are very good. I would rather see something like Trader Joe's come to town!!

My favorite place to eat is Panera. I spend time in T.C. often and am so glad to hear you are adding it to your area. I'm sure people will love it as well. Thanks for making my day!!!

Best news in years. I will support a location anywhere! I have to say, I am discouraged by the individuals saying no - it is their choice not to eat at Panera but please do not ruin it for the rest of us! In addition, chains support the economy with revenue and jobs!

Yes, bring Panera to TC. Their Cinnamon Crisp Bagels are fantastic. Their is no business in TC like Panera, they are unique and a welcome addition.

After moving to TC from down state, Panera was one of the places I missed. I have yet to find a good bagel here and I loved the ones from Panera. Yes we have GT Pie company but GT doesn't have the bread focus and I miss that...

A Panera would be a nice addition but it needs to be located closer to downtown. In my opinion it won't hurt GT Pie as they already have a great thing going and a solid customer base. Hopefully the execs at Panera realize our local charm and can accommodate with a somewhat special store...

No thanks! We already have incredible sandwich places in TC and they're local, not chains. Artisan bakeries do a much better job than any chain ever could. They can stay in GR.

We so need a Panera Bread here. It would be a huge success!! Please, please put one here!!

I've eaten at Panera in Grand Rapids and while it was good, I agree that I prefer to support the efforts of our local bakeries that use local ingredients. I would love a Kobe steakhouse, though! There are asain places to eat, but with Lobe you have a floor show with dinner! We've driven 2 hours to eat at the one in Grand Rapids just to eat there!!!

My family would love a Panera here in TC. It is about time. A good location would be across the street from the mall - in that shopping plaza.
The Pie company is good but they are in the city and it would be nice to have something closer to where lcoals mostly go to shop, etc.

Another front for over-priced, sugary, carb-laden snacks? No, thank you. How about something healthy for a change? There's a reason our country is full of fat people...

YEAH! I was just talking with a friend about wishing there was one in TC! Can't wait.

I think the PIe Company is essentially the same as Panera, except the focus is on pies instead of bread. Its the same type of soup, salad and sandwiches. Like others have mentioned we already have several area bakeries. The Panera niche has already been filled in this community.

I LOVE Panera Bread and would love it if one or two were in TC! I don't care where they put it, I would go.

I would love to see Panera in TC. It's about time! Whenever I am traveling and there is a Panera, we make sure to have lunch there since we don't have one. They have great food, a nice atmosphere, sitting area with fireplace for wifi use and reasonably priced food (as eating out goes these days). There is something for everyone!

YES! I love the charm of having local restaurants but those that work and live here with our families, it would also be nice to have good, quality food within a family's budget that isn't a fast food chain.

I love Panera when I travel but I think the last thing TC needs is another restaurant selling bread products, soups, salads and sandwiches. We have so many local companies making amazing breads, bagels and offering so much more in terms of delicious food it would be a shame to bring in a big chain doing the same. 9 Bean Rows had yesterday, for instance, a salad for lunch so good it almost made me order a second--and this on top of their amazing fennel sea salt bread and the yummy pastries. GT Pie does the same as Panera only locally better, in my opinion.

Stop with the Chains and Boxes TC is losing its charm

Yes, and Anywhere