The long-awaited Panera Bread location planned to open this month in Ralph Brown Draughon Library is a no go — at least for now.
Because of issues involving the transition between Auburn's longtime contractor, Chartwells, and its new dining contractor, Aramark, the Panera Bread is not expected to open this semester.
Prevail Union coffee will operate, for now, in the RBD Café location where Panera was slated to operate.
"In the meantime, we didn't want students to go without food, that was a really critical thing," said Glenn Loughridge, director of Tiger Dining. "Prevail was someone we felt like students liked the coffee, and we could operate within the space until we can get Panera installed."
Though Chartwells had reached an agreement with Panera Bread to open in that location, Aramark has not yet been able to solidify its own contract with Panera Bread, according to Tiger Dining.
"It'll open over the summer," said Loughridge. "What has to happen now is that Aramark has to train a management staff to replace the staff that was going to be there. Aramark also has to create a contract between themselves and Panera Bread corporate."
Aramark is working to reach an agreement with Panera, but that could take until May. Until then, the plans to open an on-campus Panera are on hold.
"As of May 7, the contract with Chartwells expires and Aramark takes over, they will have that [the Panera Bread Contract] in
When the fall rolls around, Prevail will move to Foy Hall, according to Gwen Ward with Tiger Dining.
Tiger Dining announced its new contract with Aramark, a food service company based in Philadelphia, in February. The new contract came at the end of a 10-year contract with the former provider, Chartwells.
Aramark will be partnering with Tiger Dining for dining services and athletics concessions. With the growth of the University, there was a need for higher financial investment from the chosen partner, Loughridge said.
The original opening date for Panera Bread was scheduled for September 2017, but construction has been prolonged. It was finally expected to open in March, but that didn't happen.
The delay in the opening of Panera Bread came after Chartwells also took longer than expected to open Einstein Bros. Bagels in Haley Center. That was expected to open in fall 2016 but didn't open until fall 2017 after issues with construction.
Melissa Mitchell, campus writer, contributed to this report.
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Chip Brownlee, senior in journalism and political science, is the editor-in-chief of The Auburn Plainsman.
