Panera to open in Kalispell next month
From left, Pat and Casey Ryan stand in the lobby of the Panera Bread in Kalispell on Aug. 29. The new restaurant in North Kalispell will open Sept. 12. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)
Construction crews work at Panera Bread on Aug. 29.
Construction crews are busy at Panera Bread on Wednesday afternoon, August 29. The new restaurant is in the same area of north Kalispell as Hobby Lobby and Krispy Kreme.(Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)
The fast casual bakery and café Panera Bread is set to open at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 12 in its news location at Hutton Ranch Plaza in North Kalispell.
Panera is known for its fresh-baked bread, sandwiches, soups, coffee and pastries aiming for a healthy spin on a traditional fast-food setting, while also offering ample seating throughout the space. The new store will feature a modern Panera design and include a drive-through and outdoor patio.
Ryan Restaurant Group, run by brothers Casey Ryan of Missoula and Pat Ryan of Billings, is opening the store. The company also operates the two Applebee’s restaurants and Famous Dave’s in the Kalispell area. This is their first foray into Panera, and also the restaurant’s debut in Montana.
He said the decision to put the first Panera in Kalispell largely came about because they found a real-estate deal they liked. He said the chance to have a location in Hutton Ranch and be right across from the Flathead Valley Community College campus was appealing. They built the building from the ground up.
He also said the strong performance of their other Kalispell restaurants through the years made them feel confident in taking the plunge.
“Kalispell has always been a good place for business,” Casey said.
Pat also said this Panera would be on the cutting edge of the restaurant’s expansion, and may have some features that Panera devotees don’t recognize from older locations.
“This is one of the first stores in the new design,” Pat said. “We’re really pushing the needle on technology.”
He said they were putting in order kiosks to speed up customer service during busy times. He also said they would allow people to order from their smartphones.
He said they are investing in the Panera brand because they think it comes with high-quality food and that it will be a good fit for the active lifestyle of the Flathead.
“More than convenience, it’s about the quality of the food we serve,” Pat said. “I think they have been an industry leader.”
They also said they would continue the standard Panera practice of donating all unused baked goods to local charitable organizations at the end of the night. He said they would contribute bread locally to Heart Locker, Samaritan House and Ray of Hope.
The new Panera will be one of over 2,000 stores across the United States and Canada. The Ryan brothers said it was likely to be joined by another Panera in Missoula within the year.
The previously publicly traded Panera company was acquired by corporate giant JAB last year.
The new Kalispell location will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday through Saturday and from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Reporter Peregrine Frissell can be reached at (406) 758-4438 or pfrissell@dailyinterlake.com.