Today's the grand opening of the new Panera Bread on the site of the old Ford dealership on the Montclair/Glen Ridge border. And judging by the lunch crowd (I'm blogging this while I down my French onion soup), lots of have people have already figured it out. Of course, there are balloons.
They're giving out small baguettes (three-cheese demis) as a way of saying hi to the community. Only today and while supplies last. If you come in the next hour, you can say hi to the Barista.
Look for a new 7-Eleven opening soon next door to Panera, and in January, the opening of Club Kid'doo, which is also a big sponsor of the upcoming First Night Montclair on New Year's Eve.
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Comments (34)
I'll have to try this place out on one of my WFH days.
Enjoy your French Onion Soup!
An aside: I went to Fitzgerald's for dinner last night, and it was freezing.
I drove by the location on Bloomfield Ave a few days for the first time in a while. Aesthetically, that shopping center does not look as bad as I had expected.
corporate bread
Never was a big fan of Panera..so-so bread and bland, soupy with mayo tuna sandwiches.
Any word on a Trader Joes?
Yummy 3 cheese bread! Delicious nutty chocolate chip cookies, too.
MellonBrush, what is WFH? And Nellie was the onion soup at Fitzgerald's freezing or you?
I'm not a fan either, terrible bagels, snotty service and more mayo in the chicken salad then chicken. That said I have family members who swear by the place and suggest getting up early for their breakfasts where once they run out there is no more breakfast.
I'll stick with the Bread Company.
If forced to choose between Panera & Atlanta Bread, I'd choose Atlanta. That said, neither of the chains can beat our local soup & sandwhich shops, but I may stop by out of curiousity and to hopefully be proven wrong.
And Gina's has great bread. But for corporate lunch on the run, I have been perfectly satisfied with the 2 or 3 Paneras that I've tried--far better than McD's, et al.
I believe "WFH" translates as "work from home." Could be wrong.
With all the great bakeries and local eateries around here, anyone who wants to buy "corporate bread", as someone put it nicely, should just go live in the burbs.
Some just people don't know when they got it good.
WFH - work from home.. yup..
Thursdays is my day. Very convenient for Dr./Vet appts etc and also for getting a jump on weekend chores..
Newsflash to whatever--this IS the burbs. And the times I've gone to Panera were when I was out for the day, in a new area, in a hurry, and hungry for soup--and there it was! Of course local one-offs are better, but it'll do. (Best soup around here--Raymond's.)
Nope, best soup anywhere in Baristaville has to be STOCKPOT on Church Street.
Nope, the best soup is made in my kitchen, and it's just getting to be the season where there's always some to be had.
Yes, the best soup is made by my DH: carrot, parsnip and ginger soup. Yum!
I like the split pea, leek, and kielbasa soup my wife makes this time of year. It's amazing.
OK, I do make a pretty great chicken soup from the carcass of the chicken I just roasted for dinner...also a very yummy broccoli-cheddar with none of that gloppy, cornstarchy stuff that commercial soups have! (I see we've come full circle!)
White bean, escarole and chorizo soup, courtesy of DH. MellonBrush, we also do a mean cabbage, white bean and kielbasa but the split pea and leek sounds delicious.
Also just about time for the turkey soup that provides both the basting and the first course, (picture Homer drooling, mmmmmm).
I am a fan of the carrot-ginger ilk as well.
I like most soups: love homemade chicken soup, nothing like it. Split pea, udon noodle soup, miso soup, French onion. The only ones I don't like are cream soups.
I will continue to patronize local bakers such as The Bread Co. and Gina's rather than Panera, just as I continue to patronize Terra and Beans rather than Starbuck's. And you should, too.
Ah, Jesus. I just read that again.
For as long as I've driven the length of Bloomfield avenue, I've felt a tingle of pride realizing that Montclair was one of the few 7-11 free stretches. Disgusting.
A soup/sandwich and lottery tickets....all is right with the world.
I will continue to patronize local bakers such as The Bread Co. rather than Panera, just as I continue to patronize Terra and Beans rather than Starbuck's.
Speaking of The Bread Company, I have discovered their Coconut Banana gluten-free (although I personally could not care less that it's g-f) muffins. They are amazing. A treat every Saturday morning. Blueberry ones are wonderful too.
Try kale in the kielbasa soup. It compliments the kielbasa wonderfully.
For take out, Stockpot is my favorite.
The Pie store (Watchung) is great for "unusual" and incredibly good soups that are more of a meal.
Bon Jour, on Park across from the hardware store near Watchung has well priced, huge portion, good soups.
While you are there you can go next door to Rosario's a terrific Italian Meat Market/Deli.
Now you can do the GR Trifecta:
B'fast at Starbucks, Lunch at Panera, dinner at Fitzgerald's. Who'd a thunk it?!
good asiago bagels
And Nellie was the onion soup at Fitzgerald's freezing or you?
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Just saw this now...I was freezing...the place was like an icebox...It needs the warmth of the Baristanet people gathering together.