Panera Bread held its grand opening Monday at its new location in Hazel Dell, at 7200 N.E Highway 99. The newest location for the popular national restaurant chain features a 116-seat dining area and drive-through window. The location has one feature that sets it apart from other Paneras — a remnant of a sign for the former Steakburger restaurant that occupied the site for decades. The letters “EAT” have been preserved in neon on the restaurant’s ceiling as a memorial to the beloved local restaurant that closed earlier this year.
This is Panera’s second Vancouver location. The St. Louis, Mo., company operates a restaurant at 915 S.E. 164th Ave., and nearby in Portland at the Jantzen Beach mall. Its hours are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays.
