Panera Bread — Restaurant in Mansfield

I travel widely across the country and frequent many Panera Bread stores. This store and the one nearby on Walker Lake Road--both apparently owned by the same owner or group--are the worst Panera Bread restaurants I've been to in terms of actually having bread on their shelves. It is almost always the case that there is little to almost no bread on their shelves. In the evening they tell you they have sold their bread. In the afternoon they say they have sold their bread. In the morning, you guessed it: They tell you they have sold their bread. In fact, their stock answer is to tell you that, if you want bread, you need to order it a day ahead of visiting. What?!

My feelings are as follows: First, I neither have the lifestyle nor the commitment to Panera Bread that makes ordering ahead feasible or reasonable. I don't want or need their bread that much. Secondly, every other Panera Bread store I've been to nationwide seems to be able to keep bread on-hand throughout the day, often late into the evening, often up and to closing. So, as I imagine many other people do, you can walk in and spontaneously decide, right then and there, that you would like a loaf of bread. That's the kind of action that occurs at bakeries everywhere! Indeed, it is clearly a conscious decision on the management/owners' part NOT to carry bread. Maybe sandwiches or coffee are their cash cows. But the place is called Panera BREAD! It seems ridiculous to say this: they should carry bread.

Example: I walk in at 10:00 AM this morning. The bread shelves are less than half full, and there is only a modest selection of bagels. The shelves look like what you would expect 1/2 hour before closing. I ask for sour dough. I'm told that they have none. I ask how that is possible at 10:00 AM. A worker says that they have sold it all. I mention to him that I wonder why they don't make more throughout the day. I bring up supply and demand, and ponder demand such as mine would indicate that they would sell more if they made more as needed. Oddly, he seemed to think their bread is selling just fine. It clearly did not sell to me, and I doubt that is sold to the customers blindly coming in the rest of the day, i.e., from 10:00 AM until 9:00 PM. Yes, 11 hours with low to no bread! What?!

The worker, who eventually identified himself as a manager, was a bit contentious and certainly didn't make me feel wanted or listened to.

My advice: if you are elsewhere in the US, visit Panera and enjoy a variety of breads; if you are in the Mansfield, Ohio, area, look elsewhere. Head downtown to Buckeye Bakery, find some local artisan bread by Kara's Breads, or search you favorite travel site for other local, well-stocked...

SoI go to Panera for lunch today I order a pick two as well as my son get charged in $28 for a small bubble soup and a half a sandwich and a baguette each no drinks. You would think after putting $28 for two small meals your soup would be hot but no it was the last of the soup because as I was going to get my soup the lady said that they needed more broccoli cheddar soup so I got the bottom of the soup pot that isn't even remotely warm at all and very clumpy instead of soupy I go to use the bathroom and it looks like nobody's even touched the walls and 5 years The toilet paper is on the floor The trash cans in the middle of the floor with the trash can lid halfway on it looks kind of like somebody came in there and just moved everything around and use the wall to dry their hands looks like the floor hasn't been mopped there's crumbs all over it I tell the employee that looks overly annoying that I'm telling him the bathroom is disgusting I see him go get a brand new thing of toilet paper and to put in the bathroom and then I see him walk by with some cleaner and one rag to clean the entire bathroom with mind you the sink is disgusting the toilet is disgusting and so is the floor so I see him clean his bathroom with one rag probably got the toilet the sink and then he starts cleaning the door after he's finished cleaning the toilet and the sink with the same rag how disgusting is that? As I'm eating he's walking past me with a smile on his face and written all over his face it says ... "I did it, aren't you proud of me?" As I'm sitting here looking around the dining area there's crumbs all over every table and one table has five chairs that are totally different there's one table that's doing the Detroit lean and the windows look like somebody spit all over them or smeared their snot all over them.... And as I am typing this I'm debating on whether I should eat my Cold $28 meal. The sanitation in this place actually really kind of sucks probably won't be coming here again I think the Ontario store has nicer people and does a lot better job at cleanliness.... And in the back of my mind I'm wishing I hadn't stopped here to...

For one they are extremely picky about their portion sizes and god forbid you accidentally throw in one extra tomato into a salad. Call off twice and suddenly you’re a criminal. Ask them for proof of the dates you supposedly called off? “Can’t provide it, but we have it written down” Sure, because accountability is totally optional. Manager texts 30+ people at once instead of actually managing. Productivity? Never heard of it. And being pregnant? Apparently that’s just a cute little inconvenience. Need time off when you aren’t physically able to work? Magically conjure a doctor’s note you can’t even afford even though you let them know you’d have the note the following week, they need that doctors note immediately or the world is gonna end I guess. Oh, and the pay? $13 an hour. That’s right! stress, anxiety, and pregnancy discrimination for barely above minimum wage. Outrageous doesn’t even begin to cover it. Basically, if you want overpriced sandwiches, chaos, and a paycheck that laughs in your face, Panera’s your dream job. If you value your sanity you should prob run! Also asking at the interview “Are you sure you can work while pregnant” when I never even said I was is against the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA), 1978 –amendment to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Which is illegal to ask someone at an interview! I was told I could not come into work until I have that doctors excuse and so I did what was told and now they want to talk about my “employment status” because they said I never showed up for work even though they told me not to. I’m sure you can enjoy your food here but they don’t give a shit about the workers apparently. Customers come in complaining about their order being wrong and taking forever and they are always out of something too so I’d keep...