Panera Bread’s Central Florida franchisee is making good on its promise to grow its local presence with its new, drive-through concepts.
Warren, Ohio-based The Covelli Family, which last year announced plans to invest nearly $20 million into opening 19 new bakery cafes in the area, inked deals for three new restaurants set to open this year.
The franchisee signed a 15-year lease for a 2.4-acre lot on State Road 436 near Lee Vista Boulevard close to Orlando International Airport, where it plans to build a 4,400-square-foot store that could open by the fall. That store is part of a development that includes the new, quickly-growing Wawa gasoline and convenience retailer, as well as Chick-Fil-A.