Panera Bread is exploring plans to develop at the 5th Element Indian Restaurant site at 9485 Baymeadows Road.
The 1.36-acre site is on the north side of Baymeadows Road between Old Baymeadows Road and Baymeadows Circle East, west of Southside Boulevard.
The 5th Element owners bought property in St. Johns Town Center to relocate.
City utility JEA issued a service availability letter June 26 for demolition of the Baymeadows Road restaurant and construction of a 100-seat Panera Bread.
Goodson Bergen & Associates Consulting Engineers Inc. is the civil engineer.
Built in 1991, the 4,561-square-foot restaurant was a former Applebee’s and more recently 5th Element Indian Restaurant.
Panera would demolish the existing restaurant and build a new one. The landowner is Realty Income Corp. of San Diego.
Panera now leases a 4,360-square-foot space at 9810 Baymeadows Road in Baymeadows Village.
There at least 14 Panera Bread locations in Northeast Florida.
Panera has been opening stand-alone restaurants with drive-thrus as it leaves its in-line locations in strip shopping centers.