New Panera Bread to Open Tuesday

After just twelve weeks of preparation, the new Panera Bread in Oakmont is ready for business.

At 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday May 3, the store, located at 666 Allegheny River Boulevard in the former Giant Eagle plaza, will open its doors to its first customers. 

The bakery cafe offers artisan bread made with natural ingredients along with soups, salads and baked goods.

The new Oakmont restaurant is owned and operated by Covelli Enterprises. Headquartered in Warren, Ohio, Covelli is the largest Panera Bread franchise in the nation, with more than 150 locations, according to the company. Its chain includes restaurants in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky and Florida.

Erin Kijanka, director of operations, said the location hired a total of 60 employees for the Oakmont location, including management. They are still accepting applications.

“All the customers from the Mills and Waterworks keep asking about it,” she said. “I think it’s really going to be great—everybody’s really excited.”

On a recent afternoon as employees put the finishing touches on the restaurant, general manager Ryan Rearick said the Oakmont location includes new features such as original paintings and solar powered ceiling lights.

Construction wrapped up two weeks ago. Desalvo Construction, an Ohio company, started the construction on February 1 of this year, Kijanka said.

Rearick explained that owner and operator Samuel Covelli became interested in an Oakmont location when the U.S. Open was in town in 2007.

“During the U.S. Open, the Waterworks and Mills picked up a lot of business and catering,” he said.

Nick Carangio, who works at the Ace Hardware store next to the new Panera Bread, said that people have been looking forward to the restaurant opening.

“People have been in here asking about it for the past few months, asking when it would open,” he said.

Carangio is looking forward to the opening as well, he said.

“I don’t think it will affect the businesses here in Oakmont because it’s different,” he said.  “I think it will be good for the community and it’s going to bring more people into Oakmont.”

Panera Bread said promotions will start at 10 a.m. May 3 with a complimentary travel mug and two week supply of coffee for the first 500 customers.

On Wednesday, the restaurant will offer half-priced breakfast sandwiches from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m.

On both days, customers will be given a five dollar gift card with the purchase of a You Pick Two meal combination.

Panera Bread will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony with Oakmont community members at the new location on May 17 at 10 a.m.