Panera Bread in Arlington Heights closed its doors Tuesday night after 15 years of serving the community.
Although the cafe was always jam-packed at breakfast, lunch and dinner, Panera Greater Boston Local Marketing Manager Jackie Halfond said the company ultimately decided not to renew its lease upon expiring this year.
Many of Panera’s Arlington staff members will move to other locations, such as a new Panera cafe opening in Cambridge near Alewife, Halfond said. Arlingtonians who like Panera may find it convenient to visit this cafe, as well as recently-opened locations in Waltham and Lexington.
“Panera continually invests in efforts to improve and renovate bakery-cafes to ensure that their customers have the dining experience they have come to appreciate from the brand,” Halfond said in an email. “Unfortunately, in some existing locations, it has been difficult to achieve the standards they believe will meet customer expectations. With the expiration of their lease, they have taken the opportunity to close the Arlington bakery-cafe for this reason.”
One of the chain’s oldest locations and the second one to open in the Greater Boston area, the spot became a popular hangout for a variety of people: families with young children, people working on their laptops, professionals and volunteers meeting over a cup of coffee, and students of the nearby Ottoson Middle School meeting friends after classes.
Many memories were made at Panera, whose staff was a big asset, said Arlington resident Laura Reiner Jastremski in an online comment.
“Panera is a place where friends gather in a pleasant and clean atmosphere to share a cup of coffee, a treat, a meal. I have often, during visits to the area, met many people there that I know,” Jastremski said. “We have updated each other about family and friends as well as what is happening in our lives. I know many people who are very upset about the fact that it is closing.”
For their part, the staff have also enjoyed serving Arlington, Halfond said.
“The Arlington bakery-cafe has been a wonderful location for the company,” Halfond said. “The community has been very supportive of the bakery-cafe and the managers and associates have loved being a part of the neighborhood since they opened their doors in 1998.”
Not just Panera, but the stores surrounding it have thrived thanks to the welcoming community, said President Len Bierbrier of Lexington-based Bierbrier Development Inc., which leases space to The Meat House, Massage Envy, Unleashed and Hair Cuttery.
“We’re very pleased with the community’s acceptance of the tenants we have, who are reporting they are successful, and my hope is we can continue that way,” Bierbrier said. “The development has been successful not only on a financial basis but in terms of reputation. All the stakeholders are happy and it’s a real source of pride.”
Bierbrier Development is working closely with a possible replacement tenant, Bierbrier said. Although nothing is for sure, he said it’s possible there will be some news by June.
“The tenant we’re seeking should be able to provide an equal or better presence in the center than Panera provided,” Bierbrier said. “We recognize that Panera had a certain importance to Arlington Heights and we want to make sure whoever comes in its place is equally or even more welcome.”