The latest restaurant to build on Whiskey Road is expected to become operational by either late summer or early fall.
The Aiken Standard reported in February that a Panera Bread restaurant planned to demolish the former Ryan's location, 1953 Whiskey Road, and build a drive-thru cafe-style bakery on the land next door to the former Teresa's Mexican Restaurant.
Ryan's has since been torn down, and the property is now divided into two parcels - one 4,334-square-foot building for Panera and another for three tenant spaces that will include an Aspen Dental, a mattress store and Vitamin Shoppe.
Panera Bread will have about 100 seats for the inside and around 52 seats outside; all spaces will share a common driveway on Whiskey Road and have shared parking.
Bo Gdovin, an operating partner for Southern Bread, a franchise that operates Panera Breads throughout South Carolina and parts of Georgia, said the group expects a four-month "build out," as construction is still ongoing and the company is still in the "permitting process." This is the 19th Panera Bread for the franchise and at least the seventhth with a drive-thru window.
Panera is a national bakery-cafe-style restaurant that operates nearly 2,000 company-owned and franchise-operated locations in 45 states.
The bakery-cafe offers breakfast items, including coffee, salads, soups, sandwiches and pastries.
Gdovin said even with the two buildings on the property there will be more than enough parking, especially "with it being a drive-thru," he said.
Maayan Schechter is the local government reporter with Aiken Standard. Follow her on Twitter @MaayanSchechter.
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