Panera Cafe opens 320th location in Bloomington

Sunlight streams through a wall of windows, bathing briefcase-clad businesspeople and students toting backpacks in midafternoon light as Shoshtakovich's Third Cello Concerto plays over a persistent hum of conversation. \nThe Panera Cafe chain opened its eighth Indiana location at 322 South College Mall Road Oct. 31. The company boasts 320 cafes nationwide and is one of the fastest-growing restaurant chains in the United States, said John Moss, general manager.\nPanera Cafe has been packed since opening day, Moss said.\n"I am so happy to see this great response," Moss said. "It is amazing how fast the community became regulars."\nMoss said he attributes the cafe's success to the quality of food and the friendly atmosphere.\n"We offer elegance and quality at an affordable price," Moss said.\nThe Panera Cafe menu features fresh baked breads and a variety of entrees, ranging from peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to Tuscan chicken, but their signature product is sourdough bread.\nThe Panera sourdough recipe was judged "Best in the Bay Area Sourdough Recipe" at the San Francisco Fair and Exposition three years in a row, Moss said. \nKen Rosenthal, founder of the company, purchased the sourdough starter recipe in 1978 when he opened the St. Louis Bread Company, Panera's parent company, in St. Louis.\nRosenthal was inspired to begin bread making after a trip to San Francisco where Americans fell in love with sourdough, Moss said.\nThe cafe is quickly becoming a local favorite, Moss said.\n"I like to call Panera a community gathering place," Moss said.\nIn the rear of the cafe a bulletin board posting community announcements displays fliers detailing the local Red Cross drive and an ad for the production of "Cletus and Virgil" at the John Waldron Arts Center.\nThe Panera Corporation supports local charity organizations, Moss said.\nAll unsold bread is donated at the end of the day to local hunger relief agencies. Panera will also double any cash donations, made at the counter, to local hunger relief organizations.\nBloomington has seen a growing number of large chain restaurants open branches, which often present challenges to local establishments.\nThe Panera Cafe might present competition to the Bake House, 125 N. College Ave., a locally owned cafe on the square that also prepares fresh baked breads. \nBut Tracy Gates, general manager of the Bake House, said she is not too concerned.\n"We love the competition," Gates said.\nThe Bake House also focuses on the quality of their product.\n"We want people to take eating seriously, so we take preparation seriously," Gates said.\nThe Panera Cafe has hired 80 employees to serve consumer needs.\nSamantha Amdur, a sophomore, said she is especially happy that Panera opened a branch in Bloomington.\nAmdur has worked for the Panera in St. Louis for five years. She is able to continue working when she goes home to visit her family for summers and on holidays. \n"I decided to stay at Panera because it is never mundane or boring," said Amdur. "I have made most of my friends through working at Panera"