Tampabay.com:
Corner Bakery Cafe, a Panera Bakery clone, has signed a deal to have 10 of its fast causal restaurants operating in the Tampa Bay area within five to seven years.
The local franchisee says the first store will open within a year and is initially scouting the usual suspects for locations: Westshore, Palm Harbor, Brandon and St. Petersburg.
The 130-store chain sprouted from of an awning-graced bakery in downtown Chicago set up in 1991 to make breads for the first Maggiano’s Little Italy restaurant next door. The bakery turned into an espresso cafe and then a chain dishing up breakfast, lunch and light dinner fare.