I was attending Stark State & later Kent State (NE Ohio) from 2008-2013 the last time I went to Panera. I enjoyed going there to eat & study. My fav was the 1/2 sandwich & soup combo. It was reasonably priced and affordable for a college student. I haven't been there since 2013, but have seen the prices skyrocket. I've heard that their food isn't as good too. So they are in my retired restaurants/memory file now.
I would say its been about 4 years ago, I quit going because of food quality was really not that good. The last time I came in and got a bag of bagels for a party and they were ok, kinda felt like it was dumped out a plastic bag and sat on the shelf for a bit. So that was the last time I went there. Prices have gone way up. I hope they go out they don't deserve anybody's business anymore.
Im a current Panera employee, and yes I hate working there. Its so toxic and the food is overpriced. Just so yall know, everything is frozen like literally everything. Nothing is fresh including the bread or pastries. Also the prices are so outrageous like $19 for a salad! That’s insane
That's crazy , in 2005, the baker was there all night ! I'd open , nothing wasn't fresh , like Starbucks all shit food ,now . I noticed it looked poor but ,JAP holding is the , demise obviously! They always were a copy cat , slave driving job w only mgrs making enough to live , they stole our tips for some BS , cause .....too! No big loss!
And a little bag of chips as your side? Nothing like a scoop of a pasta salad or mac salad or ANY semblance of a personal touch....just a F'ing bag of chips!
Yeah my mom loved this place back then so I’d go with her sometimes. Their stuff was great and I remember they had a really good reputation. I’ve been a couple times in the 2020s and was like, “what happened to this place?”
Yep it was. You'd walk in to tons of delicious bakery items. Now i walk in and there are about 3 items which are all basic. Our local one NEVER has espresso drinks. How is that possible?!
Agreed. In the beginning, Sizzler was a great steak chain. I worked for them in the 80's. But gradually, they cut quality to make more profit, mostly by leaving more fat when trimming their steaks. No one pays for steak fat - they want STEAK. I read the writing on the wall and got the hell out before it got really bad. They removed expensive items on the salad bar, and replaced them with hot, cheap items like pasta and meatballs. Shortly after that, Sizzler stores imploded into bankruptcy. I still miss their grilled lemon chicken.
There not going away there just getting there stuff from a diffrent company they did this to cut costs from the warehouse since it was 20%cheaper so now everything will be frozen insted of made by hand
Always! Private equity companies are usually just a corporate headquarters where they count the pennies from the companies they own but know NOTHING about.
It's in their game plan. Cheapen everything... ingredients, suppliers, etc. They figure by the time the consumer notices and stops going, they will have pumped the value of the company up they can sell and let the buyers deal with the fallout.
My favorite sandwich of all time from Panera was something I would always look forward to. A few weeks ago, I order a tuna sandwich expecting to see the usual fairly sizeable freshly baked bread but rather found a sandwich made with grocery store white bread, less veggies both in quantity and quality and a tuna salad that bore nothing of the flavor in the original sandwich. That is when I realized Panera’s descent was in full force. Not surprised!!!!
We went in once to a local Panera’s in 2018 or 2019 and the lady that helped us was sick! And instead of sending her home, you know, so she doesn’t get others sick, her managers let her stay, handle food, and called her a trooper! They ended up sending her home right after us because she did start vomiting, but they shouldn’t have let it get that far!!! We should never allow people to stay for a shift if they’re that sick. We’ve never gone back to Paneras.
Problem with employment pre COVID was people were afraid to get fired from places like this if called in sick, so she went in to be let go sick.. idiot on both sides. Getting rid of the management slave mentality is a must.
Went into a local Panera's in April. Me, the wife, and our daughter each wanted our favorite menu item. All three favs were stricken from the menu replaced with smaller, blander, and more expensive alternatives. This included the Teriyaki Chicken Bowl.
At the store I work at, the new salad portions are HUGE. I’m not ever going to defend them, but it’s unfortunate that y’all’s store portions haven’t gotten bigger… we were trained to make bigger portions with this new menu
Yep, the lack of outlets and free wifi is because they don't want people to hang out there. I've worked at a couple fast casual places that did exactly the same thing for exactly the same reason. On the other hand, you go into any recent Mcdonalds remodel and not only is there an outlet under basically every table, but there a bar with like ten USB hookups. And yes, free wifi.
I tried their NEW menu that started last month. For 2 "you pick two's" with NO drinks was $32.83!! I was shocked it was that much for 2 tiny salads and half of a tiny sandwich. My friend and I decided we arent going back. So sad, I used to love going there.
I remember applying to Panera as a baker working the graveyard shift when they started opening locations in my city over 15yrs. ago. During the interview, the store manager gave me a tour of the kitchen, ans admitted all the bread & pastries came in frozen. I noticed that they didn't even have a hobart(commercial sized kitchen aid stand mizer). I politely stopped the manager, and withdrew my application. Even though frozen product would've made my job eaaier, I was there to improve & learn as a baker. I ended up finding a better paying job closer to my house. I just couldn't bring myself to work for a company who would cut corners like that.
Well, Panera can be added to a long list of Companies that have been devastated by a corporate takeover. I grew up in a family business, these big corporate chains don't conduct business the way my father conducted his business. I am not one who is easily hooked for trending and currently popular places. To me they rarely live up to their billing. I finally went to a Panera two years ago with my daughter. The broccoli soup was good, but what they tried to pass off as a grilled cheese sandwich was an abomination. Yet people do what they usually do; falling for the hype and trendiness. These mega corporations only care about stock dividends and bonuses for their executives. Check out the locally owned businesses in your community. Do you want them to get your money or do you just want to feed some corporate machine?
Agree 100%! Instead of going to one of the chain delis (you know all the names!) There are several indi sub shops I frequent and they are MUCH better in quality, quantity and personal experience...Usually just a nicer visit all around.
I miss the old days at Panera where I could go in after school, buy a cup of soup for $4-5 bucks, and sit at the tables for hours in my broke high school days. I haven’t been back there in ages but not shocked PE ruined it.
@@kellychuang8373 It is. But the next day I went to Buffalo Wild Wings. Got 2 big burgers 2 fries and 2 large beers for under $25. I won't go back to Panera again.
I used to love Panera but they've definitely gone downhill. The ironic part is they do actually innovate; I love their Warm Bowls for instance. I miss their soba bowls. The problem besides portions is that they're just constantly out of stuff. 50% of the time I'd try to order from them they'd be out of what I want. I can ignore the prices when the food is something I can't find elsewhere for cheaper but at this point I can't find it at their stores either.
The prices are ridiculous and the quality is not as good. There is one down the street and I hardly go. If they made some changes people would go Back.
When I traveled I used to look to see what the closest store was in the city I visited. Now I haven't been to Panera routinely in over ten years except on rare occasions when it's convenient. There has to be underlying issues to why they can't retain people (staff is ever changing) and the lower quality of their food and loss of many menu items..
Me too, they were my go-to place when traveling for work. Clean, wifi, the food was good, I could drop in, fix a presentation, get something to eat. Then could check my preference card and see when they lost me.
I go there for the cheap drinks with the sip club and maybe a $2 giant cookie and VERY rarely get a Duet, but yeah, Panera has gotten WAY too expensive in recent years.
Interesting. I went to Panera for the first time in 2023 and haven't been back since. None of the employees were the least bit friendly and everyone looked mad. My to-go order was sloppily thrown onto the counter and I was glad to get out of there. I don't remember the food so it was obviously not worth the effort to make a return trip. FYI: This was at the Puente Hills Mall location in California (yes, the mall where they filmed Back to the Future).
About 3 years ago I went to Panera for breakfast on a Saturday and got my favorite sandwich and a cookie. I treated myself because I had been staying away from eating out for about 3 months in order to lose some weight. The total price I paid was over $10 and the sandwich was half as big as I remembered. I haven't been back since.
And recently they’ve changed their menu again, removing favorites of regular customers from their menu &, because of that, those customers will not be returning….I mean, what’s the point? REALLY dumb move, but if they want to lose money, then let them.
This scenario has played out with a lot of once popular restaurants. When they first open the food and customer service is stellar and gradually the portions get smaller and the customer service sucks.
I never went much but I DID love their soups and bread bowls, especially the broccoli cheese. I learned how to make it myself during the pandemic, haven’t been in a Panera since before the pandemic but I know their prices are RIDICULOUS now.
My mother used to love Panera so we took her weekly until she passed. It was good until the last few years. Portions down, prices up and they did away with the free cookie. I also read that they discontinued my favorite meal so I probably won’t be going back anytime soon.
There is actually a Panera near me and the staff and management seem really competent..it's out of my way with my current job but I do like their food.
We only have one Panera in our area. They opened in 2017. They are the worst, the worst and the employee turn over is constant. The management is the worst, so full of arrogance. They have no care if the customer is happy. They never and I MEAN EVER have they gotten my order correct. When I try to get the missing items they act like I'm stealing from them. And what about the outrageous prices for what you get??? So I stopped giving them my business a few years ago because I was tired of the rip offs, gouging and bad attitudes. They deserve to go out of business, or this one in my town does.
I went to Panera a couple of months ago. The food was excellent but pricey, just like everything due to the ongoing inflation. I understand that companies need to make their profits, so it is what it is. This is also why I choose to cook my own meals. You spend more eating out than buying groceries and meal-prepping for the week.
There is a Panera less than a mile from where I work. I enjoyed stpping there on the way to work to get a bagel. And then things changed. One time, I went into the restroom, and then when I tried to wash my hands, I found there was no soap. I told some employees, but they just continued doing what they were doing. No one attempted to fix the issue. I was not going to eat anything with dirty hands, and so I got back into my car and drove to the McDonalds. Inferior food, but the restroom was stocked. Panera lost a sale that day. The drivethru also became INSANELY slow. They used to put to-go bagels in a sleeve and then put that in the bag. Then they changed that and just threw the bagel in the bag. The last two times I went, my bagel was toasted too long and scorched.
I used to work for a company that would buy us Panera for lunch for EVERY meetings, get together, team building events, etc. Before this, I didn't even know what Panera is. My white co-workers would always talked about how good the food were and get excited. I thought, "wow the food must be great and from one of those fancy places" lol. Nope! And then of course I saw how much it cost and NOPE! Its not for me. Now every time i see a Panera, I laugh inside thinking about how excited my white co-workers were.
Imagine taking this narrative and talking about how all your black coworkers were excited for Popeyes only to find out it’s overpriced garbage not worthy of even KFC prices. Why you have to call race into your narrative is beyond me other than the chance for someone to tell you, your racism is showing.
I like Panera. They always had something different and were a cut above the fast food chains. The thing is, it has become expensive. What once cost me $12 is now about $20. I might still stop there, but I also look for alternatives.
I hate to break it to everyone but PANERA NEVER HAD BREAD MADE IN HOUSE (at least not from 2000 on). Bead arrives frozen, is thawed, and then goes into a proofing room, then baked. Finishers are added. It's always been the same process. My restaurant serves bread before the meal and people think there's a little old lady in the back rolling out dough. They even ask if our ravioli is house made. Anyone who's ever made ravioli from scratch will realize this is a joke as well as an impossibility for a casual dining restaurant. It's obvious so many people not only don't cook, but have never worked in the industry.
I've been disappointed with Panara since they discontinued their baked potato soup. Then their overall quality was going down and prices went up. Haven't been in Panara in a long time
Honestly they officially burnt bridges with me once they discontinued their Steak & Cheddar Sandwich, BBQ Chicken Salad and Asian Sesame Chicken Salad.
I thought it was just me but my last 3 visits to Panera were disappointing. They are usually out of Decaf the biggest seller. Tuna salad that was a puree like baby food. An eat in order mistakenly packaged as take out. None of these visits was at a busy store. I admit that when I called customer service 800 number they listened and gave me a credit for a free lunch on my next visit but I hate to call and complain. There are no other comparable restaurants since Corner Bakery, Au Bon Pan both closed. Im so sad.
I used to regularly go to St. Louis Bread Co, and later to Panera. Loved the atmosphere and the food at that time. Over time, the food quality seemed to get worse over time, and portions got smaller. At my most recent trip, I purchased a salad, and in it was a large insect. That was the last straw.
Eating out is a total waste of money. I recently ordered a bagel and cream cheese at Pacera. They were out of cream cheese, and instead offered one tiny cube of butter, far too small for the bagel. Won't be going back, cancelled my membership a long time ago.
My wife was a big fan of Panera to the point I would drive a lot farther to get it for her rather than have her settle for something fast and dirty. But then she had a few salads with old lettuce and that was the end of that.
Panera was is and always will be a fast food establishment for people who think they are too good for fast food. It's actually pretty pathetic if you are spending hours in a fast food place if you don't actually work there. I can tell you for sure Panera will be going nowhere just like mcds bk and Wendy's will be going nowhere at least in America anyway. This country is too heavily reliant on the fast food industry on a daily basis to ever give it up
On a day I was starving I had to get something to eat fast. I got a fast food burger from Sonic and the burger, fries and drink cost $15.30!!!!! I live 3 minutes away from Sonic and when I got home the fries were greasy and limp. The burger was cold. I’m not eating fast food any more. I could’ve had a sit down meal at a nice restaurant for $15.30.
@@warrenlewis3977 cooking at home. There was a time not long ago where going out to eat was a treat and not something done every day. maybe go back to those kind of days
@@SuperDjr1984this country is reliant on fast food because everybody working all the time and can barely afford to eat someplace nicer or get good quality groceries
I've noticed that the old electrical outlets have been replaced by cover plates at several locations near me. I like Panera coffee more than Starbucks, but I prefer to brew my own at home. Some of the food is outrageously expensive especially for fast service food.
They got famous off of their fresh baked bread and then they do away with it. What did they think was going to happen? We all know damn well that nothing compares to freshly baked bread and you can’t fake that magic with frozen bread. I’m tired of the corporations trying to give us an inferior version of everything and thinking that we won’t notice. It’s insulting our intelligence.
Haven't been to a Panera in years. Last time there the menu had changed and nothing looked appealing. Corner Bakery is still ok but also quickly disappearing. I guess the time has come and gone for casual dining.
Years ago, I considered Panera Bread and Corner Bakery Cafe to be competitors on equal footing, both of them with a good number of locations in the Philadelphia area and an area I visited at least once a year, the Maryland suburbs of DC. These days, though, there is only one Corner Bakery Cafe left in the whole state of Maryland and very few left in the Philadelphia area. Several years ago, I was excited when a new Corner Bakery Cafe opened in Abington, PA,, almost exactly halfway between Panera locations in Willow Grove and Jenkintown/Baederwood. But it lasted less than 2 years. That location is now occupied by another bread-oriented chain, First Watch, but I don't consider that one to be a competitor to Panera because it has table service. As of April 23, there was still a Corner Bakery Cafe in Horsham, not far from the Willow Grove Panera Bread. I consider First Watch and Metro Diner to be competitors to each other. Both have table service, but First Watch is not open past mid-afternoon.
Panera's used to be known as the business office for many single employee entrepreneurs. Set up your laptop, buy one cup of coffee and stay all morning while on your phone.
not sympathetic to these people TBH because 10 years ago when Panera was good, we'd sometimes have to take the worse seat (single table near registers) when we had spend $30 while some fool held court at a nice table in the corner with their $2 purchase
Chipotle is way worse! The trays always overflow even if they don't serve alot, since they're so shallow, so even civilized conscientious people leave a mess.
After Panera changed their menu in April. It's downhill from there. Constantly messing up orders as well. I've opened every wrapper to verify all the time now before I leave.
The problem is going out isn’t affordable anymore. Inflation has been going up so they buy less quality and frozen products and then their prices go up so basically you’re paying Walmart brand material for higher prices and more people are starting to see which is why they’re not going out anymore
They started dying with pizza and getting rid of most of the delicous sandwiches. Then they got rid of the actually tasty pastries and downgraded about everything. Most sanwiches are gone from the menu. It is pretty terrible. Used to be a favorite of mine. No more.
They're getting rid of classic favorites, like the Napa Almond Chicken Salad Sandwich (there are people all over Facebook bitching about this one) and the Asian Sesame Salad with Chicken. These are two of my personal favorite Panera items and I haven't been back since they got rid of them. That's only two items gone. There's a whole list. They are literally alienating much of their customer base by getting rid of so many of their good products.
My son goes there to study and buys a loaf of bread for $5 because that is all he can afford. The other day I told him I would buy him some Mac and cheese and a drink. It was $15 and it looked like a kids meal. Nowhere near filled him up!
I agree. I quit going. It is more like commissary microwave Starbucks like food..no thanks. Salads are still pretty good. The unsweetened tea is plastic tasting poision.
They made a corporate decision to serve what they felt was healthy for the customer instead of what the customer wants. Example: One iconic American sandwich is ham& swiss on rye. They refused to carry ham. Also they frequently ran out of items at my local Panera. Was just undependable. I quit going 2 years ago.
My local Panera looks nothing like the locations shown in the video. It is dark, dreary, and sometimes dirty inside. I would never eat there. Pick up orders are carelessly prepared and sometimes hard to find upon arrival. For example, my "free side" of "a baguette" was a 4" long piece of dried out bread, thrown into the bag, unwrapped. Staff members are unpleasant to deal with, if you can find one of them. I ordered twice, both times because of promotions. But not again.
Haven't been there in a year but was in an area that had no choice and I needed a bathroom too.....now I understand "hospital food" references. I got a salad and it self like mostly iceberg lettuce, that cheap bagged cold chicken, and kraft ranch dressing. Like I know I ordered a chicken ranch but thought they'd put a little effort into any one of the ingredients. Frankly, it was embarrassing FOR THEM
Yea I remember the same happened to me back in May. I got that Southwest Ranch Chicken Salad expecting it to be homemade ranch mixed with Southwest spices like the BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad was. Instead it was bitter Kraft Ranch and Kraft Chipotle Sauce.
Panera bought The St. Louis Bread Company in the late 90's. The quality of the food went way down. I can only imagine just how bad it is now. I hope they go under. Won't be missed.
Got take out salads on 2 occasions and the chicken was FROZEN. Now I understand that they have eliminated the Asian Chicken Salad altogether. Used to be a regular, now I never go there.
When it first came to our town it was good but quickly changed. Even though it's close to home in our nearby local shopping center we stopped going after being disappointed too many times. Haven't been for a long time, not since several years before the pandemic.
Panera tests highest for glyphosate in its food according to test done by moms across America. I got horrible rash that flared up and faded for nearly a year before holistic doctor diagnosed the cause. He gave me cilantro and chlorella tablets to detox. Now no more Panera and no more rash.
I agree they have gone downhill, and the ingredients have gotten worse. They try to make up for it by adding more salt. Same with not having bakers. I won't pay that kind of money for someone to bake frozen dough. I will go to a real bakery. It will get worse when they go public. Many public companies equal death to the company. So said. Oh well, everyone should find a local sandwich shop owned and operated by a local person and give them the business. Most of the time, mom and pop places have the best prices and quality of food. They rely on repeats and not on a corporate name.
I used to love Panera, the soup quality has dropped !!! They took away the larger size soup 🍲? Now I go hardcore, pack a home lunch and save $$$ . I know low quality when I taste it.
I used to be a catering coordinator at Panera for a long time and when the pandemic hit the way the treated us was just trash expecting us to make sales during this pandemic while corporate was all nice and safe working from home. Which i understand they lost of money but a lot of companies did and they deff got that loan and it was going down hill before hand but workers really only stay cause of each other but once one person leaves many just go as well
Yeah. Went through the drive for a bacon turkey bravo and chips. Was quoted $18. Said “No thank you” right there. And yes, the quality is going downhill fast.
I ate at Panera last year, $15 Chicken Sandwich with no fries or drink. The sandwich was good but not worth $15, there are better places with meals and cheaper. I don't know what the cost of Panera chicken sandwich is now.
So, it isn’t just me? The soups are barely there…the salads have shrunk too! But the coffee was horrid long before Covid. Cumberland Farms has become my favorite or Wendy’s or Dunkin…but not Panera who’s drinks are sugar water at best.
Dunkin guy here, LOL. It's good as a standard, everyday coffee plus I use the app and get points. I like Dutch Bros a lot, but I would go broke buying coffee there. I usually buy gift cards at Dutch Bros during the holidays, and people like it very much.
We use to to Panera all the time even when it was miles away and when the opened a new one closer to us we we happy to see it but it is small & crowded & since they made changes to their menu all of our favorite items are gone so what's the point now so we haven't been to them in months Bring back the Cranberry/ orange muffins & cinnamon bagels NOW
They killed it for me when they messed up their cinnamon rolls!!! Also no one told me the lemonade was charged. The cream cheese and cherry pastry ring was sweaty!!! Never again
I used to take advantage of the beverage cups that were on the coffee station and then drink caffeinated lemonated on the never never honor system. Boy, now I see why they were trying to get people hooked.
When's the last time you went to Panera?
not in 10 years
I was attending Stark State & later Kent State (NE Ohio) from 2008-2013 the last time I went to Panera. I enjoyed going there to eat & study. My fav was the 1/2 sandwich & soup combo. It was reasonably priced and affordable for a college student. I haven't been there since 2013, but have seen the prices skyrocket. I've heard that their food isn't as good too. So they are in my retired restaurants/memory file now.
I would say its been about 4 years ago, I quit going because of food quality was really not that good. The last time I came in and got a bag of bagels for a party and they were ok, kinda felt like it was dumped out a plastic bag and sat on the shelf for a bit. So that was the last time I went there. Prices have gone way up. I hope they go out they don't deserve anybody's business anymore.
Never
I can say it was before the 2020 pandemic or a little during that time before things got much worse.
Im a current Panera employee, and yes I hate working there. Its so toxic and the food is overpriced. Just so yall know, everything is frozen like literally everything. Nothing is fresh including the bread or pastries. Also the prices are so outrageous like $19 for a salad! That’s insane
That like two salads at Whole Foods
thanks for sharing
Thanks for sharing
That's crazy , in 2005, the baker was there all night ! I'd open , nothing wasn't fresh , like Starbucks all shit food ,now . I noticed it looked poor but ,JAP holding is the , demise obviously! They always were a copy cat , slave driving job w only mgrs making enough to live , they stole our tips for some BS , cause .....too! No big loss!
You are a smart kid. The dumbest customers I know eat there. Probably mostly women who are sooo special" I'!! Save my money! No thanks!
The same here. Used to go there all the time, but their quality has gone down while prices has gone up, up , up.... haven't walked in since mid 2022.
Please lose the background music. It's obnoxious and adds nothing to the video.
Their prices are outrageous
Eating out was expensive before Biden took office! Don't blame Panera
Prices are outrageous everywhere, but what did you expect when the morons got their minimum wage hikes?
And a little bag of chips as your side? Nothing like a scoop of a pasta salad or mac salad or ANY semblance of a personal touch....just a F'ing bag of chips!
Panera was awesome in the early to mid 2000’s
Yes it was.
Yeah my mom loved this place back then so I’d go with her sometimes. Their stuff was great and I remember they had a really good reputation. I’ve been a couple times in the 2020s and was like, “what happened to this place?”
Yep it was. You'd walk in to tons of delicious bakery items. Now i walk in and there are about 3 items which are all basic. Our local one NEVER has espresso drinks. How is that possible?!
It really was.
yeah, that was when I was still living there, used to go to Panera every day for breakfast during my intern days
Every time a good restaurant sells out to big business it turns ti “doodoo”. Goodbye Panera. I stopped going.
Agreed. In the beginning, Sizzler was a great steak chain. I worked for them in the 80's. But gradually, they cut quality to make more profit, mostly by leaving more fat when trimming their steaks. No one pays for steak fat - they want STEAK. I read the writing on the wall and got the hell out before it got really bad. They removed expensive items on the salad bar, and replaced them with hot, cheap items like pasta and meatballs. Shortly after that, Sizzler stores imploded into bankruptcy. I still miss their grilled lemon chicken.
@@TerryKitts Yes, they used to be the go to place for really good steaks and an awesome salad bar.
There not going away there just getting there stuff from a diffrent company they did this to cut costs from the warehouse since it was 20%cheaper so now everything will be frozen insted of made by hand
same, kinda gross tbh the drink club was nice for a couple months
Private equity ruins everything
Always! Private equity companies are usually just a corporate headquarters where they count the pennies from the companies they own but know NOTHING about.
It's in their game plan. Cheapen everything... ingredients, suppliers, etc. They figure by the time the consumer notices and stops going, they will have pumped the value of the company up they can sell and let the buyers deal with the fallout.
private equity strikes again...
My favorite sandwich of all time from Panera was something I would always look forward to. A few weeks ago, I order a tuna sandwich expecting to see the usual fairly sizeable freshly baked bread but rather found a sandwich made with grocery store white bread, less veggies both in quantity and quality and a tuna salad that bore nothing of the flavor in the original sandwich. That is when I realized Panera’s descent was in full force. Not surprised!!!!
I’ve regularly went to Panera for 20 yrs. Lately, they lost my business with their new changes. So very sad.
We went in once to a local Panera’s in 2018 or 2019 and the lady that helped us was sick! And instead of sending her home, you know, so she doesn’t get others sick, her managers let her stay, handle food, and called her a trooper! They ended up sending her home right after us because she did start vomiting, but they shouldn’t have let it get that far!!! We should never allow people to stay for a shift if they’re that sick. We’ve never gone back to Paneras.
Problem with employment pre COVID was people were afraid to get fired from places like this if called in sick, so she went in to be let go sick.. idiot on both sides. Getting rid of the management slave mentality is a must.
Ugh.
@@MonicaFlorida couldn’t have said it better myself.
Went into a local Panera's in April. Me, the wife, and our daughter each wanted our favorite menu item. All three favs were stricken from the menu replaced with smaller, blander, and more expensive alternatives. This included the Teriyaki Chicken Bowl.
At the store I work at, the new salad portions are HUGE. I’m not ever going to defend them, but it’s unfortunate that y’all’s store portions haven’t gotten bigger… we were trained to make bigger portions with this new menu
Huh? Are you sure you didn't accidentally walk into a Flame Broiler? Teriyaki Chicken bowl?
Yep, the lack of outlets and free wifi is because they don't want people to hang out there. I've worked at a couple fast casual places that did exactly the same thing for exactly the same reason.
On the other hand, you go into any recent Mcdonalds remodel and not only is there an outlet under basically every table, but there a bar with like ten USB hookups. And yes, free wifi.
Notice they did this at Barns & Noble and went bye-bye!
😂 = And $15.00 Big Macs that used to be $5.00 😅 the joke is on U.S.All - Nothing is free (never was, never will be).
What is free wi-fi when the burger is $15.00? 😅
@@bodyloverz30 We still have a B & N....They are not gone!
Yeah, but who wants to hang out at McDonalds?
I tried their NEW menu that started last month. For 2 "you pick two's" with NO drinks was $32.83!! I was shocked it was that much for 2 tiny salads and half of a tiny sandwich. My friend and I decided we arent going back. So sad, I used to love going there.
I remember applying to Panera as a baker working the graveyard shift when they started opening locations in my city over 15yrs. ago. During the interview, the store manager gave me a tour of the kitchen, ans admitted all the bread & pastries came in frozen. I noticed that they didn't even have a hobart(commercial sized kitchen aid stand mizer). I politely stopped the manager, and withdrew my application. Even though frozen product would've made my job eaaier, I was there to improve & learn as a baker. I ended up finding a better paying job closer to my house. I just couldn't bring myself to work for a company who would cut corners like that.
Wheather it's Sears, Panera Bread or Chevy's whenever a private Equity Firm comes in it's going to go downhill.
they buy it for the property , drag it in the red as long as possible for tax losses
@@cardboardboxificationVery interesting. That seems spot on.
Yup same thing with red lobster. Same story, different food chain.
Well, Panera can be added to a long list of Companies that have been devastated by a corporate takeover.
I grew up in a family business, these big corporate chains don't conduct business the way my father conducted his business.
I am not one who is easily hooked for trending and currently popular places. To me they rarely live up to their billing. I finally went to a Panera two years ago with my daughter. The broccoli soup was good, but what they tried to pass off as a grilled cheese sandwich was an abomination.
Yet people do what they usually do; falling for the hype and trendiness. These mega corporations only care about stock dividends and bonuses for their executives. Check out the locally owned businesses in your community. Do you want them to get your money or do you just want to feed some corporate machine?
Agree 100%! Instead of going to one of the chain delis
(you know all the names!) There are several indi sub shops I frequent and they are MUCH better in quality, quantity and personal experience...Usually just a nicer visit all around.
I thought they said this is one of newsomes good buddies donating tons of money to the cause
Acquisitions are where good companies go to die.
@@DKonigsbach Agree! Once a company is "acquired" nothing good happens!
The lack of the baked goods is frustrating I used to come to Panera the unique bake goods. Now it looks like a walmart pock and go.
It's embarrassing.
Oh well another one bites the dust
All stores are different . Quit complaining.
@@BeeRumblin13except this is Panera, a BAKERY, we're talking about. Maybe you're too young, but Panera used to bake fresh pastries and bread.
I like Panera’s food, but the prices are insane. I can go to a sit-down restaurant and get a lot more food for the same amount I spend at Panera.
I miss the old days at Panera where I could go in after school, buy a cup of soup for $4-5 bucks, and sit at the tables for hours in my broke high school days. I haven’t been back there in ages but not shocked PE ruined it.
Last time I went to Panera. We got 2 -1/2 sandwiches and 2 cups of soup and 1 soda. It was over $30.00.
The inflation these days is out of control.
@@kellychuang8373 It is. But the next day I went to Buffalo Wild Wings. Got 2 big burgers 2 fries and 2 large beers for under $25. I won't go back to Panera again.
It would be over $40 in the SF Bay Area.
@@jgrab1 Probably.
@@jgrab1 That isn't surprising now along with rising homelessness in that area as well.
The quality of Panera has gone way down. Not worth stopping there anymore.
I used to love Panera but they've definitely gone downhill. The ironic part is they do actually innovate; I love their Warm Bowls for instance. I miss their soba bowls. The problem besides portions is that they're just constantly out of stuff. 50% of the time I'd try to order from them they'd be out of what I want. I can ignore the prices when the food is something I can't find elsewhere for cheaper but at this point I can't find it at their stores either.
Serving things like those stupid bowls was one of their downfalls.
The portions for the bowls at the store I work at are HUGE. They def aren’t popular though.
The prices are ridiculous and the quality is not as good. There is one down the street and I hardly go. If they made some changes people would go
Back.
Eat somewhere you believe respects its customers. Its a free market.
@@349UrbanVlogs I do and that is why this long time go to is not on my list of places to go. Just sad.
When I traveled I used to look to see what the closest store was in the city I visited. Now I haven't been to Panera routinely in over ten years except on rare occasions when it's convenient. There has to be underlying issues to why they can't retain people (staff is ever changing) and the lower quality of their food and loss of many menu items..
Me too, they were my go-to place when traveling for work. Clean, wifi, the food was good, I could drop in, fix a presentation, get something to eat.
Then could check my preference card and see when they lost me.
I go there for the cheap drinks with the sip club and maybe a $2 giant cookie and VERY rarely get a Duet, but yeah, Panera has gotten WAY too expensive in recent years.
I only go for the unlimited sip club
Cookies are 3.95
You had me at "bought by a private equity group".
Interesting. I went to Panera for the first time in 2023 and haven't been back since. None of the employees were the least bit friendly and everyone looked mad. My to-go order was sloppily thrown onto the counter and I was glad to get out of there. I don't remember the food so it was obviously not worth the effort to make a return trip.
FYI: This was at the Puente Hills Mall location in California (yes, the mall where they filmed Back to the Future).
About 3 years ago I went to Panera for breakfast on a Saturday and got my favorite sandwich and a cookie. I treated myself because I had been staying away from eating out for about 3 months in order to lose some weight. The total price I paid was over $10 and the sandwich was half as big as I remembered. I haven't been back since.
And recently they’ve changed their menu again, removing favorites of regular customers from their menu &, because of that, those customers will not be returning….I mean, what’s the point? REALLY dumb move, but if they want to lose money, then let them.
This scenario has played out with a lot of once popular restaurants. When they first open the food and customer service is stellar and gradually the portions get smaller and the customer service sucks.
I never went much but I DID love their soups and bread bowls, especially the broccoli cheese. I learned how to make it myself during the pandemic, haven’t been in a Panera since before the pandemic but I know their prices are RIDICULOUS now.
My mother used to love Panera so we took her weekly until she passed. It was good until the last few years. Portions down, prices up and they did away with the free cookie. I also read that they discontinued my favorite meal so I probably won’t be going back anytime soon.
There is actually a Panera near me and the staff and management seem really competent..it's out of my way with my current job but I do like their food.
We only have one Panera in our area. They opened in 2017. They are the worst, the worst and the employee turn over is constant. The management is the worst, so full of arrogance. They have no care if the customer is happy. They never and I MEAN EVER have they gotten my order correct. When I try to get the missing items they act like I'm stealing from them. And what about the outrageous prices for what you get??? So I stopped giving them my business a few years ago because I was tired of the rip offs, gouging and bad attitudes. They deserve to go out of business, or this one in my town does.
I went to Panera a couple of months ago. The food was excellent but pricey, just like everything due to the ongoing inflation. I understand that companies need to make their profits, so it is what it is. This is also why I choose to cook my own meals. You spend more eating out than buying groceries and meal-prepping for the week.
There is a Panera less than a mile from where I work. I enjoyed stpping there on the way to work to get a bagel. And then things changed. One time, I went into the restroom, and then when I tried to wash my hands, I found there was no soap. I told some employees, but they just continued doing what they were doing. No one attempted to fix the issue. I was not going to eat anything with dirty hands, and so I got back into my car and drove to the McDonalds. Inferior food, but the restroom was stocked. Panera lost a sale that day.
The drivethru also became INSANELY slow. They used to put to-go bagels in a sleeve and then put that in the bag. Then they changed that and just threw the bagel in the bag. The last two times I went, my bagel was toasted too long and scorched.
I went to Panera Bread once about a year ago, and I was not impressed. The portion did not match the price- a small meal for such a high cost.
I would go to Panera almost every week, but since last year their portions got smaller and pricer, and the bread isn't the same as anymore.
I used to work for a company that would buy us Panera for lunch for EVERY meetings, get together, team building events, etc. Before this, I didn't even know what Panera is. My white co-workers would always talked about how good the food were and get excited. I thought, "wow the food must be great and from one of those fancy places" lol. Nope! And then of course I saw how much it cost and NOPE! Its not for me. Now every time i see a Panera, I laugh inside thinking about how excited my white co-workers were.
Imagine taking this narrative and talking about how all your black coworkers were excited for Popeyes only to find out it’s overpriced garbage not worthy of even KFC prices. Why you have to call race into your narrative is beyond me other than the chance for someone to tell you, your racism is showing.
those silly white folks...Lol
I like Panera. They always had something different and were a cut above the fast food chains. The thing is, it has become expensive. What once cost me $12 is now about $20. I might still stop there, but I also look for alternatives.
Unbelievable the difference in Panera food. The bakery products have gone straight downhill. Nasty,nasty, nasty!
I hate to break it to everyone but PANERA NEVER HAD BREAD MADE IN HOUSE (at least not from 2000 on). Bead arrives frozen, is thawed, and then goes into a proofing room, then baked. Finishers are added. It's always been the same process. My restaurant serves bread before the meal and people think there's a little old lady in the back rolling out dough. They even ask if our ravioli is house made. Anyone who's ever made ravioli from scratch will realize this is a joke as well as an impossibility for a casual dining restaurant. It's obvious so many people not only don't cook, but have never worked in the industry.
I've been disappointed with Panara since they discontinued their baked potato soup. Then their overall quality was going down and prices went up. Haven't been in Panara in a long time
Honestly they officially burnt bridges with me once they discontinued their Steak & Cheddar Sandwich, BBQ Chicken Salad and Asian Sesame Chicken Salad.
Time to close!
I thought it was just me but my last 3 visits to Panera were disappointing. They are usually out of Decaf the biggest seller. Tuna salad that was a puree like baby food. An eat in order mistakenly packaged as take out. None of these visits was at a busy store. I admit that when I called customer service 800 number they listened and gave me a credit for a free lunch on my next visit but I hate to call and complain. There are no other comparable restaurants since Corner Bakery, Au Bon Pan both closed. Im so sad.
I used to regularly go to St. Louis Bread Co, and later to Panera. Loved the atmosphere and the food at that time.
Over time, the food quality seemed to get worse over time, and portions got smaller.
At my most recent trip, I purchased a salad, and in it was a large insect. That was the last straw.
The video didn't mention how often Panera locations run out of various items.
I stopped going consistently when they changed the old Italian combo sandwich
The prices are high relative to the portion sizes and food quality (or lack thereof). McD's has Panera beat, hands down, as a 'third place'.
Eating out is a total waste of money. I recently ordered a bagel and cream cheese at Pacera. They were out of cream cheese, and instead offered one tiny cube of butter, far too small for the bagel. Won't be going back, cancelled my membership a long time ago.
My wife was a big fan of Panera to the point I would drive a lot farther to get it for her rather than have her settle for something fast and dirty. But then she had a few salads with old lettuce and that was the end of that.
me too and brown avocado. Like, I wouldn't have noticed if there was less avocado but it was all green. Just sloppy prep all around
@@istvanpraha Funny how this happens with restaurants, Chipotle sure has fallen off its prime too. I guess nobody can stay on their A game forever
Panera was is and always will be a fast food establishment for people who think they are too good for fast food. It's actually pretty pathetic if you are spending hours in a fast food place if you don't actually work there. I can tell you for sure Panera will be going nowhere just like mcds bk and Wendy's will be going nowhere at least in America anyway. This country is too heavily reliant on the fast food industry on a daily basis to ever give it up
On a day I was starving I had to get something to eat fast. I got a fast food burger from Sonic and the burger, fries and drink cost $15.30!!!!! I live 3 minutes away from Sonic and when I got home the fries were greasy and limp. The burger was cold. I’m not eating fast food any more. I could’ve had a sit down meal at a nice restaurant for $15.30.
Once again it use to specialize in fresh baked goods .. now there is no point in going. Time to go back to the mom & pop bakery
What would replace it??
@@warrenlewis3977 cooking at home. There was a time not long ago where going out to eat was a treat and not something done every day. maybe go back to those kind of days
@@SuperDjr1984this country is reliant on fast food because everybody working all the time and can barely afford to eat someplace nicer or get good quality groceries
I've noticed that the old electrical outlets have been replaced by cover plates at several locations near me. I like Panera coffee more than Starbucks, but I prefer to brew my own at home. Some of the food is outrageously expensive especially for fast service food.
They got famous off of their fresh baked bread and then they do away with it. What did they think was going to happen? We all know damn well that nothing compares to freshly baked bread and you can’t fake that magic with frozen bread. I’m tired of the corporations trying to give us an inferior version of everything and thinking that we won’t notice. It’s insulting our intelligence.
theres nothing more annoying than going into a place and finding it filled with people doing work on laptops while ordering water.
Haven't been to a Panera in years. Last time there the menu had changed and nothing looked appealing. Corner Bakery is still ok but also quickly disappearing. I guess the time has come and gone for casual dining.
I sign up for their unlimited sip club but they kept hiding the cups and didn’t staff anyone at the front counter.
That mango lemonade was the shit dude. And it got you JACKED.
Years ago, I considered Panera Bread and Corner Bakery Cafe to be competitors on equal footing, both of them with a good number of locations in the Philadelphia area and an area I visited at least once a year, the Maryland suburbs of DC.
These days, though, there is only one Corner Bakery Cafe left in the whole state of Maryland and very few left in the Philadelphia area. Several years ago, I was excited when a new Corner Bakery Cafe opened in Abington, PA,, almost exactly halfway between Panera locations in Willow Grove and Jenkintown/Baederwood. But it lasted less than 2 years. That location is now occupied by another bread-oriented chain, First Watch, but I don't consider that one to be a competitor to Panera because it has table service. As of April 23, there was still a Corner Bakery Cafe in Horsham, not far from the Willow Grove Panera Bread.
I consider First Watch and Metro Diner to be competitors to each other. Both have table service, but First Watch is not open past mid-afternoon.
Isn't this one of gruesome newsom's Good buddies😂😂😂
Panera's used to be known as the business office for many single employee entrepreneurs. Set up your laptop, buy one cup of coffee and stay all morning while on your phone.
not sympathetic to these people TBH because 10 years ago when Panera was good, we'd sometimes have to take the worse seat (single table near registers) when we had spend $30 while some fool held court at a nice table in the corner with their $2 purchase
They changed my favorite sandwich. Goodbye my precious turkey bravo sandwich
It's still there they just added ham, take it off and add more turkey.
The bacon turkey bravo is back on the menu
I agree . Their new menu sucks, and the comfort and service are no longer there.
The roast beef & cheddar was the doorbuster back when
I miss that sandwich. Can't believe they took it off back in April
I could never eat in Panera because it’s always dirty. The floors are filthy and it looks like it needs a deep cleaning.
Chipotle is way worse! The trays always overflow even if they don't serve alot, since they're so shallow, so even civilized conscientious people leave a mess.
After Panera changed their menu in April. It's downhill from there. Constantly messing up orders as well. I've opened every wrapper to verify all the time now before I leave.
Panera is my all time fave. I live in St. Louis where it’s usually called St. Louis Bread co. I want it to stay around forever.
The problem is going out isn’t affordable anymore. Inflation has been going up so they buy less quality and frozen products and then their prices go up so basically you’re paying Walmart brand material for higher prices and more people are starting to see which is why they’re not going out anymore
The most overpriced chain out there.
Another business killed by private equity.
They started dying with pizza and getting rid of most of the delicous sandwiches. Then they got rid of the actually tasty pastries and downgraded about everything. Most sanwiches are gone from the menu. It is pretty terrible. Used to be a favorite of mine. No more.
Yea honestly I knew Panera was just being trendy for the sake of being trendy when they started serving flatbread pizzas and fried chicken sandwiches
I haven't gone back since they scrapped the Flatbread Pizzas! In my opinion that was one of the best deals, and best quality items!
they were terrible wdym the new menu has much better sandwiches although i do miss the teriyaki bowls
@@user-yo1hi1ds9sand the new menu replaced even better sandwiches
@@user-yo1hi1ds9syea no, the sandwiches on the new menu are terrible. The old menu sandwiches were way better
They're getting rid of classic favorites, like the Napa Almond Chicken Salad Sandwich (there are people all over Facebook bitching about this one) and the Asian Sesame Salad with Chicken. These are two of my personal favorite Panera items and I haven't been back since they got rid of them. That's only two items gone. There's a whole list. They are literally alienating much of their customer base by getting rid of so many of their good products.
What???? That cant be true. What is going to be left?!!! WOW
@@istvanpraha I don't know if every single store is getting rid of those things, but they sure have here. P's me off.
Panera is the only fast food where you can get fresh vegetables (basil, cilantro, dark greens) that’s not subway.
Jokes on you! Subway was never fresh to begin with
My son goes there to study and buys a loaf of bread for $5 because that is all he can afford. The other day I told him I would buy him some Mac and cheese and a drink. It was $15 and it looked like a kids meal. Nowhere near filled him up!
I agree. I quit going. It is more like commissary microwave Starbucks like food..no thanks. Salads are still pretty good. The unsweetened tea is plastic tasting poision.
They made a corporate decision to serve what they felt was healthy for the customer instead of what the customer wants. Example: One iconic American sandwich is ham& swiss on rye. They refused to carry ham.
Also they frequently ran out of items at my local Panera. Was just undependable. I quit going 2 years ago.
My local Panera looks nothing like the locations shown in the video. It is dark, dreary, and sometimes dirty inside. I would never eat there. Pick up orders are carelessly prepared and sometimes hard to find upon arrival. For example, my "free side" of "a baguette" was a 4" long piece of dried out bread, thrown into the bag, unwrapped. Staff members are unpleasant to deal with, if you can find one of them. I ordered twice, both times because of promotions. But not again.
Haven't been there in a year but was in an area that had no choice and I needed a bathroom too.....now I understand "hospital food" references. I got a salad and it self like mostly iceberg lettuce, that cheap bagged cold chicken, and kraft ranch dressing. Like I know I ordered a chicken ranch but thought they'd put a little effort into any one of the ingredients. Frankly, it was embarrassing FOR THEM
Yea I remember the same happened to me back in May. I got that Southwest Ranch Chicken Salad expecting it to be homemade ranch mixed with Southwest spices like the BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad was. Instead it was bitter Kraft Ranch and Kraft Chipotle Sauce.
Panera bought The St. Louis Bread Company in the late 90's. The quality of the food went way down. I can only imagine just how bad it is now. I hope they go under. Won't be missed.
Got take out salads on 2 occasions and the chicken was FROZEN. Now I understand that they have eliminated the Asian Chicken Salad altogether. Used to be a regular, now I never go there.
When it first came to our town it was good but quickly changed. Even though it's close to home in our nearby local shopping center we stopped going after being disappointed too many times. Haven't been for a long time, not since several years before the pandemic.
Panera tests highest for glyphosate in its food according to test done by moms across America. I got horrible rash that flared up and faded for nearly a year before holistic doctor diagnosed the cause. He gave me cilantro and chlorella tablets to detox. Now no more Panera and no more rash.
I agree they have gone downhill, and the ingredients have gotten worse. They try to make up for it by adding more salt. Same with not having bakers. I won't pay that kind of money for someone to bake frozen dough. I will go to a real bakery. It will get worse when they go public. Many public companies equal death to the company. So said. Oh well, everyone should find a local sandwich shop owned and operated by a local person and give them the business. Most of the time, mom and pop places have the best prices and quality of food. They rely on repeats and not on a corporate name.
I used to love Panera, the soup quality has dropped !!! They took away the larger size soup 🍲? Now I go hardcore, pack a home lunch and save $$$ .
I know low quality when I taste it.
Panera price is way higher than sit down restaurants. 😂😂😂
Cutting corners is what corporate executives in America do.
“Equity Firm” that’s all we need to know. “Hey guys let’s go eat at…Eeww, Equity Firm?” No thanks.
I used to be a catering coordinator at Panera for a long time and when the pandemic hit the way the treated us was just trash expecting us to make sales during this pandemic while corporate was all nice and safe working from home. Which i understand they lost of money but a lot of companies did and they deff got that loan and it was going down hill before hand but workers really only stay cause of each other but once one person leaves many just go as well
Yeah. Went through the drive for a bacon turkey bravo and chips. Was quoted $18. Said “No thank you” right there. And yes, the quality is going downhill fast.
I ate at Panera last year, $15 Chicken Sandwich with no fries or drink. The sandwich was good but not worth $15, there are better places with meals and cheaper. I don't know what the cost of Panera chicken sandwich is now.
$14 chicken sandwich...YOU CRAZY
So, it isn’t just me? The soups are barely there…the salads have shrunk too! But the coffee was horrid long before Covid. Cumberland Farms has become my favorite or Wendy’s or Dunkin…but not Panera who’s drinks are sugar water at best.
Dunkin guy here, LOL. It's good as a standard, everyday coffee plus I use the app and get points. I like Dutch Bros a lot, but I would go broke buying coffee there. I usually buy gift cards at Dutch Bros during the holidays, and people like it very much.
We use to to Panera all the time even when it was miles away and when the opened a new one closer to us we we happy to see it but it is small & crowded & since they made changes to their menu all of our favorite items are gone so what's the point now so we haven't been to them in months Bring back the Cranberry/ orange muffins & cinnamon bagels NOW
They killed it for me when they messed up their cinnamon rolls!!! Also no one told me the lemonade was charged. The cream cheese and cherry pastry ring was sweaty!!! Never again
I went to Panera Bread like 4 years ago and bought 2 salads and a drink and paid $50 back then. Corner Bakery is cheaper and better.
Hey mash, you should do a story on Togo sandwiches while they’re going out of business too. Like Quiznos, they’re going out of business.
I used to take advantage of the beverage cups that were on the coffee station and then drink caffeinated lemonated on the never never honor system. Boy, now I see why they were trying to get people hooked.
Profit over people!