Cafe to car

Next week you’ll be able to add a new drive-through to your list of on-the-go food options in Winter Park. Instead of having to go inside to order your café favorites as has been the standard at its previous locations, the new Panera Bread opening on Aloma Avenue will allow you to get them straight to your car.

“[Customers] can still come to the store and use us as a café and sit inside if they want, but if they want the convenience of driving in and out, it’s a pretty nice option,” said Gavin Ford, franchise owner of 58 Panera Bread locations in Florida, including both in Winter Park.

First of its kind

This location — set to open Wednesday, July 6 — will be the second in Winter Park, adding to the traditionally laid-out restaurant on Park Avenue, and the first drive-through Panera Bread location in Central Florida. Ford said this location is smaller than the one on Park Avenue, but it will better suit the needs of diners commuting to and from the downtown area on Aloma.

“I think it’s going to enable our customers to use us differently, more frequently and more conveniently,” he said.

Ford said there are currently 40 Panera Bread drive-through “prototype” locations open in the United States, and 12 more in the works to be built in Central Florida alone in the next two years — including locations in Apopka, Oviedo, Lake Nona and Kissimmee.

Grand opening celebration

Beginning Wednesday, July 6, through Sunday, July 10, the store will hold its grand opening celebration.

In addition to direct-mail coupons, which have been sent to local residents, Ford said during that time period the first 100 customers each day — beginning at 6 a.m. — will receive a free travel coffee mug. Also on those days, with a purchase of $10 or more, customers will receive a $5 gift card toward a future purchase.

The new location will also host a preview opening and charity night on Friday, July 1, to benefit the Foundation for Foster Children. Tickets will be $10 and all food and drinks will be included, with all proceeds going to the foundation.

Learn more

The new Panera Bread drive-through is located at 2516 Aloma Ave. in Winter Park. Visit orlando.covelli.com/panera for more information about the grand opening events. To RSVP for the charity night preview, visit foundationforfosterchildren.org