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Panera Bread is coming to St. Robert, and the owner is familiar with south-central Missouri.
During a Tuesday morning press conference in the Liberty Lodge, Ehrhardt announced that Panera Bread would be coming to the former Ramada Inn location at the intersection of Interstate 44 and Missouri Avenue.
“We’ve been looking to get into this market for four or five years,” said Greg Anderson of Camdenton, who owns other Panera’s in Jefferson City, Osage Beach and nearby Rolla.
The 4,000 square-foot planned restaurant will be a state-of-the-art facility with a drive-through, the first of its kind in this area, Anderson said.
Ehrhardt, who admitted to trying to lure Anderson here years ago, said he offered Anderson other locations on St. Robert Drive, but Anderson had other ideas.
“He wanted to be here, on the way to Fort Leonard Wood,” Ehrhardt said of Anderson’s desire for the high-traffic area of Missouri Avenue.
While the St. Robert Panera will be smaller in square footage than its sister in Rolla, Anderson said he does not think it will hurt business at the Rolla location.
“I think there will still be reasons for people to go to Rolla,” Anderson said, adding that the St. Robert endeavor will be the first drive through of its kind in the area.
“We are excited to be in the greater Fort Leonard Wood community. We’ve looked many years for the right site, and feel this location is ideal. Patience has paid off,” he said.
Anderson and his wife, Sharon, own Ozark Breads, Inc., based in Camdenton, which was organized solely to manage the Panera Bread sites.
Ehrhardt said he will lease the property to Ozark Breads, Inc., but the building will to run and operated by the Andersons.
St. Robert Public Works Director Lyle Thomas said infrastructure in the area around the site have been improved in recent years, including water, sewer and electricity. Water lines, Thomas said, now form a complete loop to make for better water flow.
Ehrhardt said soon he hopes to announce other businesses coming at the location which is just east of the Liberty Lodge.
“We hope to add another restaurant and, perhaps, a pharmacy,” Ehrhardt said.
A groundbreaking is scheduled within six weeks with hopes of a year-end opening.
Panera Bread is coming to St. Robert, and the owner is familiar with south-central Missouri.
During a Tuesday morning press conference in the Liberty Lodge, Ehrhardt announced that Panera Bread would be coming to the former Ramada Inn location at the intersection of Interstate 44 and Missouri Avenue.
“We’ve been looking to get into this market for four or five years,” said Greg Anderson of Camdenton, who owns other Panera’s in Jefferson City, Osage Beach and nearby Rolla.
The 4,000 square-foot planned restaurant will be a state-of-the-art facility with a drive-through, the first of its kind in this area, Anderson said.
Ehrhardt, who admitted to trying to lure Anderson here years ago, said he offered Anderson other locations on St. Robert Drive, but Anderson had other ideas.
“He wanted to be here, on the way to Fort Leonard Wood,” Ehrhardt said of Anderson’s desire for the high-traffic area of Missouri Avenue.
While the St. Robert Panera will be smaller in square footage than its sister in Rolla, Anderson said he does not think it will hurt business at the Rolla location.
“I think there will still be reasons for people to go to Rolla,” Anderson said, adding that the St. Robert endeavor will be the first drive through of its kind in the area.
“We are excited to be in the greater Fort Leonard Wood community. We’ve looked many years for the right site, and feel this location is ideal. Patience has paid off,” he said.
Anderson and his wife, Sharon, own Ozark Breads, Inc., based in Camdenton, which was organized solely to manage the Panera Bread sites.
Ehrhardt said he will lease the property to Ozark Breads, Inc., but the building will to run and operated by the Andersons.
St. Robert Public Works Director Lyle Thomas said infrastructure in the area around the site have been improved in recent years, including water, sewer and electricity. Water lines, Thomas said, now form a complete loop to make for better water flow.
Ehrhardt said soon he hopes to announce other businesses coming at the location which is just east of the Liberty Lodge.
“We hope to add another restaurant and, perhaps, a pharmacy,” Ehrhardt said.
A groundbreaking is scheduled within six weeks with hopes of a year-end opening.
