Panera Bread — Restaurant in Downers Grove

Mixed experiences here.

Most of the front-facing staff are kind, genuine, and hustling to keep things clean and moving. Really seem to care about their work/customers. The people who work the drive through in the morning are on point in a way that I haven't experienced at other Panera locations. They have high quality audio and decent enough music playing throughout the day. It's a new Panera, so it's a lot louder (no fabric - tons of reflections), not cozy like older locations.

Tiny restrooms despite the amount of seating.

Some interactions with the back end staff are the opposite. They can be laughing amongst each other and when you ask for something that is out of stock in the front area they go straight faced and can't be bothered to say a word to you - as if it's your fault the inventory is out.

Floors are consistently sticky, which is simple to fix (swap out mop water more often/don't use the same bucket in the back and front). This is so frequent that I hear a customer mention it at least once per visit, and I notice it as well.

Interior garbage is swapped often and tables are cleaned regularly compared to other locations. Rare to find a major mess at the table.

They could improve the frequency and thoroughness in caring for the front patio area. I consistently see scattered garbage across the front and the plates overflowing. Out of sight out of mind, so there has to be a schedule to it.

If you are here around 4/5PM there is an off smell that fills the room, I think it's from the proofing cabinets they have in the front of the kitchen area. This can't really be fixed without improved ventilation or a better building plan...

Today I was at this location and Delaney was working the register. She is always so friendly. I love to see the workers that have been there for years because the place always runs better. The coffee machines are always working and everything is stocked. I always see new staff but they don't compare to the veteran staff who are always friendly faces and know their customers by name. This friendly atmosphere is what makes Panera different from other coffee places so I hope they dont change the staff because pretty much everything else has changed from the original Panera that was on 75th near Walmart, then they moved to the location that was previously across the street, and this new location is not as nice. I know it has a drive thru but its uncomfortable and the cafeteria tables are really awful and there is literally no place to set your coffee cup so you can put cream in it. Apparently, Panera moved from its old location to this location because there would be more room and they could have a drive thru. But besides the drive thru the inside is not built to be inviting. There are constant coffee spills and drink spills because there was not enough room made at the drink area. I can't believe a manager has not found some small table to put near the drinks where customers could set down their cups. If all the tables are taken, this is a huge problem. Please fix some of these issues because I loved the location prior to this one and there are some solutions for these issues. I do love the coffee club and coming...

Going downhill fast again. Mornings is like the hunger games. They run out of things all the time. Never understand how they think a replacement is acceptable for what you really had a taste for.

I am also tired of their kiosk menu being a nightmare to navigate on top of being so slow. There is such a backup at the kiosks and you can see people just struggle with it. It’s organized horribly and is sloooooooooooow. On top of that management does understand questions very well. They are easily confused. Plus NEVER and I mean NEVER as a manager reply “oh well there should be”. No kidding there should be that’s why I am asking.

I had hopes but it’s going downhill really really fast.

Don’t get me started with their ridiculous quick pickup through the drive through. 😂. It’s literally the biggest form of gaslighting. Do not pick that option ever. It will ruin your day.

Update just to confirm was at the menu ordering my food. Ordered, by the time I got to the window to pay, 2 minutes later, they are telling me they are out of what I just ordered. Folks this isn’t oh we’re so hot and fresh we run out. This is poor management and planning period. It’s such an awful way to treat your customers. Again they act like just order something else. Don’t want anything else I want what I ordered that’s on your menu. I cannot go back there get again....