Developer Lane4 has decided to close the Einstein Bros. Bagels on State Line Road. In its place will be built a new building that will host Panera Bread and a Chipotle Mexican restaurant. Both Einstein Bros. and Panera Bread are majority-owned by JAB Holdings, a privately-owned German holding company. The carwash at this location will also be demolished.
Long-time customer Jackie will miss the bagel shop.
“I hate to see it,” she said when informed of the closing. “What will I do? It seems like I have been coming here half my life.”
A Panera Bread is currently located at just a block away along 103rd Street. Additional dedicated parking may have influenced their decision to relocate. The current parking lot may appear spacious, but is nearly always full. Customers of Subway, Southside Bar & Grill and Happy Dragon all compete to find an open space. According to plans submitted to the City Planning Commission, two rows of parking totaling 74 places will be located behind the proposed two-tenant building at the new location.
Another factor influencing Panera may be the opportunity to incorporate a drive-thru. Panera spent 10 years studying, planning and testing drive-thrus before introducing them in 2005. Their new restaurant design “hides” the drive-thru from regular counter-serve customers. They have also developed special packaging that ensures “food integrity” for drive-thru orders.
It is also rumored that Office Max will be leaving the State Line Shopping Center in search of a smaller location.
As Jackie told the Telegraph, “Change is all around.”