Jilted, Unpaid Staff of Panera Bread on Soncy Go On Strike; What Next?

First, when I say that Amarillo waited a long time to get a Panera Bread we really did. We first heard about it coming to Soncy right before the pandemic. Then of course, like everything else it was put on hold. A long hold.

Second, when it finally opened they had one problem after another. There were bad reviews. Issues with keeping the lobby open because they couldn't stay with a full staff. Oh, and then legal issues with the General Manager. I would say an arrest would be a huge issue.

It just seemed to be one thing after another. They were dogged constantly on social media. The food wasn't like other Panera Bread locations. The wait was horrible if the lobby was even open. It seemed like it was more trouble than it was worth.

Then can I tell you it seemed like things were finally turning around. I couldn't believe it when I started to see some actual good reviews. I thought hey maybe things are going to be ok. That was until today.

What is Going on at the Panera Bread?

The answer is nothing. Really. I drove by and the parking lot was empty. The drive-thru was empty. That is very unusual. I mean it was peak dinner time. So I had to drive up and see what the issue was. There I saw it. There were signs on the door.

Panera Bread is Closed

According to the signs there are issues with their parent company the EYM Group. According to their website:

EYM Group, Inc. was founded in 2008 and is a multi-brand franchisee company of Denny’s, Pizza Hut, KFC, and Panera Bread restaurants that is moving forward in many exciting directions.

So seeing this sign and these issues left me worrying about the future of Panera Bread in Amarillo.

So, apparently, the restaurant is closed until the staff gets paid--or more workers are hired, whatever comes first.

I'm not entirely sure what this will mean for the future of Panera Bread in Amarillo....so I suppose we will just have to see how this plays out.