Panera Bread — Restaurant in Medford

I've been a loyal happy customer with Panera Bread for many years until the last incident I had in your Medford Massachusetts branch (cafe # 3707). I went to eat there and it was my birthday month and usually I would get a free pastry during my birthday month. I provided the gentleman at the cashier with my rewards number and he told me that it's not showing that I have a free item for my birthday. He volunteered and went and called his manager to see if he can help, and I wish he didn't. I was approached by the most unprofessional and offensive restaurant manager I have ever encountered, his name was Mr. Josue Mejia.

I kindly explained to Mr. Mejia that it's my birthday month and I usually get a free pastry and I also showed him my birthday as it was showing in the Panera App. He didn't seem that he wanted to help at all and rushed to tell me that he can't do anything about it and that this is not the branch’s problem but a problem with my rewards program. Then he tells me "how can I know that you didn't use your free reward already?". At that point I was so offended as Mr. Josue Mejia has accused me of lying to him for something as silly and insignificant as a free birthday pastry. I was so offended by Mr. Mejia's unprofessionalism in handling a simple customer service matter like this and how he easily went into accusations.

I was in shock of what just happened and told him if you can’t help me with this then who can, he told me to go look online for customer support, he didn't even have the decency to provide any phone or contacts to resolve this minor insignificant issue that any branch should be able to resolve on their own. He seemed like a very aggressive and troubled person with zero skills in dealing with customers, I am shocked how Panera Bread could hire such an incompetent person in a manager position. I don’t think I’ll be going back to this branch in Medford MA again, such a disgusting and sickening behavior by a so called...

Unfair and Discriminatory Treatment at Panera Bread – Medford Location

I’ve always enjoyed visiting Panera Bread for the food, the atmosphere, and the welcoming environment—whether for a quick meal or a comfortable place to work remotely. Unfortunately, my experience today at the Medford location was deeply disappointing and unacceptable.

As someone who often chooses coffee shops like Starbucks, Tatte, and Panera to work outside the home, I’ve never felt out of place—until today. Despite having purchased a salad as a regular paying customer, I was approached by Kevin, the General Manager, and told that I had been using the space for hours without buying anything. This was simply not true.

What struck me the most was the inconsistency and apparent bias in how this policy was enforced. I noticed other customers—white customers—also working on their laptops for long periods, yet Kevin did not approach or confront them. I am Hispanic, and so is Kevin, which makes the interaction even more disheartening. It’s incredibly painful to witness discriminatory behavior from someone within our own community.

When I tried to clarify that I had made a purchase and asked if my presence was bothering him, he bluntly replied, “Yes, please leave.” I’ve never experienced anything like this at any other Panera location—or at any other café I frequent.

I’m sharing this not only because of the personal offense I experienced, but because I believe Panera Bread should be highly intentional in selecting the people who represent your brand—especially in leadership positions. Kevin’s actions reflected poor judgment, lack of professionalism, and, frankly, a concerning level of bias that should have no place in a customer-facing role.

I hope this feedback is taken seriously, and that steps are taken to ensure no other customer is made to feel unwelcome or judged unfairly—regardless of...

ordered an orange drink from the sip club. i went to pick it up, they didn't have it. so i took the cup and got something else. the next day i went in and ordered a large drink picked up the cup from the front area. as i was filling the cup a manager in the kitchen was heckeling me in front of the prep employees saying the drinks are not free. i should subscribe to the sip club. he was trying to embarrass me in front of his subordinates. i ignored him and he started getting louder repeating so that other customers started looking towards him and the drink area where i was filling my cup. i didn't say anything and walked out after i got my beverage. none of the employees that were there that see me daily said anything probably in fear of losing their job. that manager is an embarrassment to the establishment because he is usually there and he has seen me go in to pick up my online sip club order. for him to be that out of tune with regular customers would be a concern for his boss to be grounds for discipline action. he was out of line and was trying to treat me as if i was trying to steal a beverage that i got thru the sip club subscription. i looked back b4 i left and he was acting as if he was "the man" in front of his subs. very immature for a guy in a manager roll. usually when i go there i say hello to the employees that i know and to the staff that give me my order and they're friendly. that guy was out of touch not sure why he was like that on that day, drugs maybe? seemed like it cus of the way he was acting. even if someone was trying to get a freebie, the store motto at one time was pay what u want, or it take it for free. i don't know why his manner was so strange. I'm assuming drugs...