Diners at Panera Bread will take a more hands-on approach when it comes to ordering. Jacksonville restaurants are preparing for the evolution to Panera 2.0.
Panera Bread landed permits last week to renovate four of its Duval County restaurants. Those are among the seven that St. Louis-based Panera Bread Co. intends to renovate in Jacksonville at an average $80,000 each.
The four permits approved so far are the Panera Bread restaurants at St. Johns Town Center, $98,463; River City Marketplace, $64,700; 8635 Blanding Blvd., $77,431; and 9301 Atlantic Blvd., $76,646.
The company also plans to renovate stores in Mandarin, OakLeaf Town Center and at Beach and Hodges boulevards.
The “limited scope” remodels include construction of a full-height wall with pass-thru at the service line; re-work of the service-line equipment and lighting; and installation of a banquette across from the order-status monitor, ordering kiosk stations and reach-in beverage cooler at the bakery.
Panera Bread has at least 12 restaurants in Duval County and at least 16 total in the five-county area. It’s unclear how many will be remodeled. Some are new, such as the San Marco area location. Atlantic Village in Atlantic Beach is the site of another new Panera Bread.
In April, the company unveiled Panera 2.0, a series of integrated technologies to increase capabilities for digital ordering, payment, operations and consumption “to create an enhanced guest experience for ‘to go’ and ‘eat in’ customers.”
Now it has more funding to proceed.
In June, Panera Bread Co. announced it secured a five-year $100 million term loan from Bank of America, Wells Fargo and TD Bank to use for general corporate purposes, including a range of growth initiatives such as the rollout of Panera 2.0.
It said Panera 2.0 is an investment in the customer enabled by technology to reduce wait times, improve order accuracy and minimize or eliminate crowding.
Panera 2.0 separates the experience for “to go” and “eat in” guests. It includes:
• An ordering option called Rapid Pick-Up that allows customers to place an online or mobile order from their office, car, work or home, up to five days in advance, and pick up their food at a pre-determined time without waiting in line.
• An in-cafe dining option that allows customers to place an online or mobile order within
the bakery-cafe and have the
meal delivered directly to their table.
• An ordering option from iPad kiosks, which are available in addition to cashier stations so that wait time is reduced.
• At the kiosks, and through the web or mobile app, guests can save customizations, past orders, and “favorites” for easy ordering on their next visit.
• New digital ordering processes are enabled by an online ordering web function on panerabread.com and a mobile app that allow customers to store their purchase history and credit-card information for future use.
• Dine-in guests will have their meal delivered to their table by an associate using an electronic table locator.
• For customers who have ordered their food “to go,” Panera 2.0 bakery-cafes will be equipped with a special “to go” pick-up area, featuring dedicated seating, an order-status monitor providing real-time information as orders are prepared and completed, and shelf space, all to facilitate easy pick up.
“To go” guests can claim their food without waiting in line, using a travel path through the cafe different from that of “eat in” customers.
Panera Bread said In April it expects to roll out “Rapid Pick-Up” to substantially the entire cafe system by the end of 2014, and the full suite of Panera 2.0 elements to substantially all cafes over 36 months.
Dunkin’ Donuts taking former KFC site
The KFC at University and Beach boulevards is slated for renovation into a Dunkin’ Donuts.
The city is reviewing a building-permit application for Dunkin’ Donuts at 3430 University Blvd. S.
The renovation of the KFC is estimated at $200,000.
Dunkin’ Donuts keeps on rolling out new shops.
Almost 20 Dunkin’ Donuts, some with Baskin-Robbins, operate in Duval County, not counting the Dunkin’ Donuts sold in Hess gas stations.
In addition, five more are being developed or recently opened –– Baymeadows, Beach Boulevard, East Arlington, Bartram Park and North Jacksonville.
One previously was mentioned for a new Downtown Southbank retail center, too.
Dunkin’ Donuts is part of the Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc. based in Canton, Mass. Dunkin’ Brands also owns Baskin-Robbins, which is why combination Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins stores also are popping up.
Several shops also have been renovated
GFS Marketplace in planning
A Gordon Food Service representative said Friday by email that he didn’t have details to share about the new Jacksonville location, which has been approved for construction by the city.
“We’re really early in the planning of that location,” said Mark Dempsey with Gordon Food Service, based in Wyoming, Mich.
GFS Marketplace has landed approval to build its first Jacksonville store in Southside near Beach and Hodges boulevards.
Schmid Construction is listed on the permit as the contractor for the almost 17,000-square-foot project at 13423 Beach Blvd.
The city Building Inspection Division reports the total job cost is almost $16 million.
Gordon Food Service is a restaurant supplier that operates more than 165 marketplace stores in 10 states, including at least 14 in Florida.
Trader Joe’s
opening Oct. 3
Trader Joe’s announced on its website that it will open its Jacksonville Beach store Oct. 3.
Industry sources expect the Monrovia, Calif.-based chain to open at least two more stores in Jacksonville, specifically the San Jose/Mandarin and Ortega areas.
Trader Joe’s is leasing 12,517 square feet at the South Beach Regional center in Jacksonville Beach, just off Third Street and north of Butler Boulevard.
Licensed to serve
Duval County Tax Collector Michael Corrigan issued business licenses for:
• Jalapeno Express Corp., to Jaime Gardea, 2631 Fresno Drive, No. 656, mobile vendor.
• Krispy Kreme #0167, to David Nathan Cohen, 7612 Merrill Road.
Food bites
Food- and drink-related businesses filed names recently with the state Division of Corporations under the Fictitious Name Law to operate:
• Deerwood Bistro, by Darragjati Enterprises Inc., 8221 Southside Blvd., Suite 24. Edward Darragjati is president. The location is Deerwood Station.
• Premier Meat & Seafood, by Jacobson Fish Market & Restaurant Inc., 2385 W. Beaver St. Jacobson Fish Market is based at 2401 W. Beaver St. Sameer Kandah is president and Yasmin S. Kandah is vice president of Jacobson Fish Market & Restaurant
Inc.
• Bliss Cakery, by Courtney Slipko LLC, 464073 Florida 200, Unit 9, Yulee. Courtney L. Skipko is manager of the limited liability company.
Dining signs
• Maple Street Biscuit Co., 1171 Edgewood Ave. S., two signs.
• Firehouse Subs, 6337 Roosevelt Blvd., No. 2.
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